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Archive for the ‘Engagements’ Category

Engagement Photography with Segna & Elecia – Going Downtown SLCMonday, February 6th, 2012

Downtown Salt Lake City makes for a great location for engagement photographs. Although the weather is warmer than usual it is still too cold to ditch jackets – even for photographs. We have a beautiful couple today – this is Segna and Elecia. They are from Spanish Fork but didn’t start dating till they moved to Salt Lake. They will be getting married beginning of March – and I hope the weather will be perfect for them.

They wanted an urban feel to the photographs – so I picked a downtown location that has a bit of everything. There is graffiti, brick, some urban decay and even one building has a water tower. We ended the photo shoot on State Street after we new we had some amazing photographs.

Using the sun for some lens flare to add a unique look to the engagement photos

Using the sun for some lens flare to add a unique look to the engagement photos

Breaking the rules of photography can lead to some amazing results. Usually you want to avoid lens flare – but if you do it right you can definitely create some magical and unique photographs. I am sure Photography teachers are groaning right now but don’t worry we have a variety of photographs.

Sunset is a great time for photography - the light makes people look amazing

Sunset is a great time for photography - the light makes people look amazing

When planning a time for your engagements (or even wedding portraits) the closer to sunset the better. With my portable lighting setup I can photograph anytime and anywhere – but it is ideal to get as close to sunset because you have some directional lighting and the light is more golden and warm. I love to have the sunlight coming from behind the bride (or brides) and then fill in the shadow with my own lighting.

Golden light is perfect for photographs  - the sun was about to set

Golden light is perfect for photographs - the sun was about to set

I love graffiti. For the last few weeks I have been going on a graffiti scavenging hunt. I am collecting graffiti photographs as backgrounds for some Photoshop magic – but also so I know where to go when people want that urban feel. And what says urban more than graffiti?

Graffiti is always fun - and there are some cool locations downtown with great color

Graffiti is always fun - and there are some cool locations downtown with great color

…especially when the artwork is a dinosaur. I am sure this wouldn’t appeal to mom – or a lot of brides. Maybe only grooms would dig this kind of artwork – but it is fun.

Fun with a T-Rex - I love this shot

Fun with a T-Rex - I love this shot

I am sure I have blogged about my Polaroid photography – I am trying to get at least one Polaroid out of an Engagement session. Right now I scan them and then I give the original to the couple. In the future I will just hand them to the bride at the end of the engagement session. It becomes a one of a kind photograph and it gives the bride something to hold onto while I edit and process the rest of the photos.

A Polaroid engagement photograph - taking advantage of the graffiti

A Polaroid engagement photograph - taking advantage of the graffiti

A good wedding photographer should be able to create beautiful photographs anywhere and at anytime. Location can be important – but light and composition and the subjects are much more important. And in the end that is what makes a photograph.

Don't tell anyone but this shot was in a car garage - anywhere can be a location for engagements

Don't tell anyone but this shot was in a car garage - anywhere can be a location for engagements

I love to put brides into locations that look a bit rundown. There is just something cool and twisted about beauty in an ugly location. Granted you don’t want to be there at the wrong time of day – and you want to go in a group of people but the results are really cool.

Part of the fun of photographing downtown is the "decay" in some areas

Part of the fun of photographing downtown is the "decay" in some areas

Urban locations make for great textures and backgrounds

Urban locations make for great textures and backgrounds

If you haven’t noticed there are a lot of photographers who shoot weddings and engagements. And a lot of them advertise themselves as natural light photographers. Natural light means they don’t use flash or anything artificial. I can photograph natural light but I prefer to mix natural light with my own artificial light in hopes of creating something magical. I think it is becoming part of my own style – something unique.

Sure I can photograph natural light - what sets me apart is my love to mix natural light with my own lighting

Sure I can photograph natural light - what sets me apart is my love to mix natural light with my own lighting

With all my interest lately in film photography I am still a digital photographer – that isn’t going to change. I have so much more control – and better quality with digital than I can ever hope to achieve with film. I can take a digital image and create some truly unique black and white images. I am finding that I am spending more time on fewer images. Quality over quantity – but I am not sure how to market that yet. While other photographers make create 3000 photos at a wedding I am finding that I create 1200 and I whittle that down to 700 photos. And of that 700 I want to create 20 truly amazing and unique pieces of art. Is that something that will appeal to brides?

Digital photography obviously gives me, the artist, so much more control

Digital photography obviously gives me, the artist, so much more control

I love brick backgrounds - and the bigger the variety and color texture the better

I love brick backgrounds - and the bigger the variety and color texture the better

If you are curious about this location just look for Floral Street on Google Maps. The area is a bit run down and boards as an alley way. The way things appear it might be demolished someday – which is a bit sad.

This is a favorite location to shoot in Downtown SLC.

This is a favorite location to shoot in Downtown SLC.

Another Polaroid photograph for the engagement session

Another Polaroid photograph for the engagement session

Holding hands

Holding hands

Always fun to photograph the footwear

Always fun to photograph the footwear

I am particularly proud of this photograph. The sun had just set and we have the Walker Building in the skyline. Getting a tall building and getting people at ground level to be in the same photograph can be a challenge. This is all about camera angles and perspective.

Engagement photos with the Walker Building in the background

Engagement photos with the Walker Building in the background

Great light makes for great photographs. I have been working my hardest at practicing my lighting techniques and mastering my equipment. I think it pays off in this photograph and many of my photographs. If I can get the photograph right in camera that makes the final image so much better.

Great lighting makes for great photographs

Great lighting makes for great photographs

And getting it right in camera is often the first step. Adding some cross processing or some color effects to an image can add a unique look to the photographs. As always I have to find that balance between a cohesive look and new creativity.

Playing with some cross processing to give some edge to the photograph

Playing with some cross processing to give some edge to the photograph

Black and white engagement photograph

Black and white engagement photograph

This photograph was published in QSalt Lake Magazine

This photograph was published in QSalt Lake Magazine

Maybe this spring I will have to chance to photograph Segna and Elecia again. I would love to give them a chance to get out of their winter coats.

Check back in a month for their wedding photographs!

Last photograph. Love the little bit of wind blowing in Segna's hair - I didn't even need a wind machine!

Last photograph. Love the little bit of wind blowing in Segna's hair - I didn't even need a wind machine!

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Related posts:

A Preview of Karina & Mike' Engagements
Jaala & Harrison Celebrate 5 Years
Tom & Kristi's Engagement Photographs
My Brother is Getting Married (He's the Youngest in the Family)

My Photo Made it to QSalt Lake MagazineWednesday, February 1st, 2012

It is that time of year again – QSalt Lake Magazine and wedding vendors are giving away a wedding. I helped out with last year’s wedding.

This year there will be 2 weddings that are being given away and I have the opportunity to photograph the engagements and wedding for Segna and Elecia. We photographed their engagements on Friday and the magazine goes to print tomorrow – but here is a sneak peak of magazine.

My photo is featured in QSalt Lake Magazine

My photo is featured in QSalt Lake Magazine

I will be posting more photographs from the shoot soon – we had a lot of fun in the cold and the photographs look awesome.

FYI, QSalt Lake is Salt Lake City’s own LGBT magazine. It is published on a biweekly basis. It is always fun when my photography makes it to their print magazines! I always like the ego boost, lol.

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February 2012
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Related posts:

Jaala & Harrison Celebrate 5 Years
Tom & Kristi's Engagement Photographs
MacKenzie & Stan's Engagement Photos
My Brother is Getting Married (He's the Youngest in the Family)

Kelli Jo & Jonathan’s EngagementsSunday, November 27th, 2011

Get ready for a big blog post with 28 photographs of Kelli Jo and Jonathan’s engagement photographs. These photographs were created on 2 different photo shoots and covered 4 different locations.

The first day we went to a local park in Orem, Utah to photograph them riding their Razor scooters. They ride them on BYU’s campus and I thought it would be fun to photograph them doing a fun activity they enjoy. I hope the next couple I photograph want to try sky diving ;)

Jonathan & Kelli Jo pose with their Razor Scooters

Jonathan & Kelli Jo pose with their Razor Scooters

We picked their scooters as an activity they can feature in their engagements

We picked their scooters as an activity they can feature in their engagements

Riding the Razor Scooters

Riding the Razor Scooters

When the light was too dark for scooters we created a few photographs by the pond in the park. With my gear I am able to shoot in challenging lighting situations and still walk away with beautiful photographs.

After the scooters we created a few more posed portraits by the duck pond

After the scooters we created a few more posed portraits by the duck pond

Jonathan & Kelli Jo engagement photograph

Jonathan & Kelli Jo engagement photograph

I have already shared this photograph in a preview post but decided to include it again. This was the first photograph of the shoot and it is probably my favorite. And Jonathan is very proud of the digital calculator watch he is wearing.

Sunsets can be magic for engagement photographs

Sunsets can be magic for engagement photographs

A week or so later we had our official engagement session. We were shooting for some posed shots and at most I usually just tell the bride and groom to stand here and then stand there and whether to look at the camera or to look at each other. That is usually the most direction I give when posing a couple.

The second session picked up at the Provo Castle

The second session picked up at the Provo Castle

The Provo Castle is a popular location to photograph. A ton of photographers go there regularly and to be honest I am liking the orchard out in front. And I am finding that with good lighting and some creativity I can photograph anywhere and still create cool photographs.

Engagement photographs at the Provo Castle

Engagement photographs at the Provo Castle

Engagement photographs at the Provo Castle

Engagement photographs at the Provo Castle

Engagement photographs at the Provo Castle

Engagement photographs at the Provo Castle

Autumn is a beautiful time to photograph – the autumn foliage is classic and timeless.

Autumn is beautiful for engagement photographs

Autumn is beautiful for engagement photographs

Autumn is beautiful for engagement photographs

Autumn is beautiful for engagement photographs

We moved down to the apple in front of the State Hospital

We moved down to the apple orchard in front of the State Hospital

Engagement photographs in the apple orchard

Engagement photographs in the apple orchard

Lately I have been playing around with film photography. I have been bringing along a film camera to my photo shoots and will snap a few shots in black and white and in color film. I will also edit some of my digital photographs to look like film. I am experimenting with a balance of digital and film photographs. Oh, and I have started creating a few Polaroid photographs as well. How cool is that?!

Creating some photographs that look like film

Creating some photographs that look like film

Film photograph for the engagement session

Film photograph for the engagement session

I am using primarily Kodak Portra 160 for color film

I am using primarily Kodak Portra 160 for color film

I really like the color, grain and vintage look of true film photography

I really like the color, grain and vintage look of true film photography

Black and white film photograph - shot on Kodak TMax 100 film

Black and white film photograph - shot on Kodak TMax 100 film

Back at the orchard we have more black and white film photographs

Back at the orchard we have more black and white film photographs

Back at the orchard we have more black and white film photographs

Back at the orchard we have more black and white film photographs

Ok, done with the film photography. After the orchard we raced east to west to make it to Utah Lake before the sun was totally gone. We got there just in time for the sunset and a beautiful sky. We spent another hour as the light changed quickly.

We finished the engagement session on a dock at Utah Lake as the sun was setting

We finished the engagement session on a dock at Utah Lake as the sun was setting

The Utah County Marina is the backdrop for this photograph

The Utah County Marina is the backdrop for this photograph

Silhouette on the shore of Utah Lake

Silhouette on the shore of Utah Lake

Playing with light to create some artistic variety to our photo shoot

Playing with light to create some artistic variety to our photo shoot

A photograph of Kelli Jo's wedding ring - shot with natural light

A photograph of Kelli Jo's wedding ring - shot with natural light

Natural light photograph - shot digitally and edited with software to mimik the look of film

Natural light photograph - shot digitally and edited with software to mimik the look of film

That is it for the engagement photography for Jonathan and Kelli Jo – watch for the formal session soon. The formals were shot in Salt Lake City the day before thanks giving. I won’t boast too much but they look fantastic.

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Related posts:

A Preview of Karina & Mike' Engagements
Jaala & Harrison Celebrate 5 Years
Tom & Kristi's Engagement Photographs
My Photo Made it to QSalt Lake Magazine

My Brother is Getting Married (He’s the Youngest in the Family)Monday, October 17th, 2011

My youngest brother is getting married! He will be marrying Kelli Jo this December in the Salt Lake Temple a few days before Christmas. And I get to be the photographer – even better news ;)

We will be having engagements, bridals, formals and then of course the wedding day itself. Kelli Jo mentioned that they better be featured on my blog and of course they will be. They are a cute couple and they definitely complement each other. Kelli Jo is studying teaching at BYU and my brother is in the Air Force ROTC with the goal to become a fighter pilot.

I will be blogging more of their photos in the coming weeks – I just wanted to post this preview photograph first.

My brother Jonathan and his fiancee Kelli Jo

My brother Jonathan and his fiancee Kelli Jo

We were just arriving to the park when the sun was setting and the sky was starting to explode in a beautiful array of orange, red, and blue. I have never set up my lights and my camera as quickly as I did yesterday. Within minutes we had this photograph created and we took a few more as the sunset. The sunset didn’t last too long but just enough for some amazing photographs.

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February 2012
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Related posts:

Whisper Something!
Jaala & Harrison Celebrate 5 Years
Lisa and Noah's Newport Beach Engagements
My Photo Made it to QSalt Lake Magazine

Adventures in Practice PhotographyTuesday, May 3rd, 2011

These are some photographs from a practice photo shoot next to Utah Lake. We found a few recently married couples to play engaged couples and model for us – and they did a great job!

The photographers (including myself) wanted to practice with our lighting gear and even some new gear. I was excited to use some colored gels for special effects like adding color to the couple while having the sky turn more blue. The more I can do this in camera the less time I need to spend in Photoshop.

A couple, a lake, and sunset

A couple, a lake, and sunset

The first couple is Jessie and Artem. The second couple was Alexi and Gregory. Many thanks to them for giving their time and putting up with some chilly weather. This was April but it was probably about 40 degrees outside. They were definitely troopers!

Black and white photograph

Black and white photograph

I hope to find that balance between practice, creativity and day to day regular work. Too often photographers do the exact same thing – because it is safe and expected. More and more I want to challenge myself – it is at that point that I find more creativity waiting to be captured by the camera.

Practicing creative lighting for couple's portraits

Practicing creative lighting for couple's portraits

Wide angle lens to capture the texture in the clouds

Wide angle lens to capture the texture in the clouds

Jessie's individual portrait

Jessie's individual portrait

Artem's individual portrait

Artem's individual portrait

Working with gels on lights to warm up colors or cool the background

Working with gels on lights to warm up colors or cool the background

Alexi & Gregory

Alexi & Gregory

Alexi & Gregory after the sun had set

Alexi & Gregory after the sun had set

Blog Archives

February 2012
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
« Jan    
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
26272829  

Visit Photography GalleriesSee the PricesLearn More Contact Me

Related posts:

A Preview of Karina & Mike' Engagements
Mindy & Matt's Engagement Photography
Lisa and Noah's Newport Beach Engagements
My Photo Made it to QSalt Lake Magazine