This lens is a stepping stone to buying a Canon 85 f/1.2 lens. The price difference is huge and I only buy lenses or equipment when I have the cash to pay for it.

Canon 85mm f/1.8 Lens

What impressed me most was the knowledge of photography that Judge Joe Brown has – and I can imagine he loves photography as a hobby – which just rocks! So watch the clip

Every photographer needs to be open and honest about themselves and their skills. And people should definitely realize that you get what you pay for. I hope I don’t sound like I am on a high horse or preachy.

In the digital age anyone with a camera can bill themselves as a photographer and the wedding photography industry can definitely suffer if everyone who has a camera thinks and advertises themselves as a professional.

Utah Wedding Arts is a seperate venture from dav.d wedding photography – I will run dav.d wedding photography where I manage my own weddings, engagements, and bridal photography. That is my business – and I retain all creative and business control over it – its my baby!

Utah Wedding Arts will occasionally have weddings that they need help with or where they need another photographer – that is when I show up and take some amazing photographs and then hand the digital files over to Utah Wedding Arts. They will edit the photographs and sell the prints, albums, and more. They will also do all the marketing for Utah Wedding Arts. I will of course help out best I can in marketing the new business.

This is perfect for me I think – I love working with other photographers and I think this will give me more opportunity to second shoot.

So check out the new website – it is still being developed the blog is getting set up and soon should be moving ahead full steam.

Utah Wedding Arts

I really like how Canon renders the color red – Nikon sometimes is weak in that regard. Nikon excels in autofocus, metering, wireless lighting, and zoom lenses. Canon excels in resolution and wide aperture prime lenses. So I will be carrying both cameras around my neck. I can’t wait till my next wedding in California – two weeks – road trip!

Testing my Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens on my nephew

I was second shooting at this wedding and the bride and flower girl were taking a break while everyone else had their photos taken by the main photographer. And this relaxed pose was just too perfect. It was a gorgeous day as well.

Every flowergirl dreams of growing up to be the bride

I am primarily a Nikon camera user but I now own a Canon with the stellar Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens. This the first in a few lenses from Canon that I will be purchasing. Nikon doesn’t make anything like them so that is why I now shoot Canon. I am not giving up on Nikon – I am going to use both.

Rabbit in the Snow

If you want to see more of my animal photography you can see it at my dav.d photography website.

I can’t wait to use the new camera and lens on a real person. Maybe this weekend I will get the chance. I also can’t wait to use it at my first wedding of the year.

The mini clinic might have to change its name – there were about 170 people in attendance. Fortunately I have not real fear of public speaking! And after the fact people said that I did a great job and more importantly I was hilarious! Which is always a plus.

And Jeremy Hall took a few photographs of me teaching posing techniques. And the model Ingrid was a great model for the mini clinic. I won’t quit my day job – but teaching photography really is fun.

dav.d teaching posing techniques

My goal in posing people is to make them look as natural as possible – I don’t want to force a pose. But I will also demonstrate some good techniques and even create the pose myself.

And everyone gets nervous in front of a camera – and 90% of the time I am sure photographers are freaking out behind the camera. They are wondering how to bring the best out of their subject. My approach? Humor and talking to the model. Get them to relax and feel comfortable in front of the lens and that will show in the portraits.

Demonstrate the pose for the model

And looking at these photos of me – I need to get to the gym more! Spring is almost here – and soon it’ll be bikini season.

A few weeks ago I was asked to put together some of my best portfolio pieces from weddings and engagements and send them to another photographer. Below is one of the photos that was selected. Someone was interested enough in my skills as a wedding photographer to consider me for some extra work that they may have in the future. And I am very excited.

Is this vague enough? All I will say is Associate Photographer. Cue the music!

Flower bouquet as portfolio

And there has been a meeting to talk details and for me things are now cemented and moving forward. More will be announced when there is more cement with other cementees.

It is always cool when people see some skills that I might have. I just have to work on my marketing, branding, and second shooting skills.

My primary cameras are Nikon. I have about 10 lenses from Nikon and love them, however, there are a few lenses that Canon has that Nikon didn’t. So I have been saving money and looking forward to a tax return to buy a new Canon 5D Mark II and some fancy Canon glass.

One of these magic lenses is the Canon f/1.4 24mm lens. Nikon did not have an equivalent lens – until last night. But I am still leaning towards the Canon lens – they are on version 2 of their legendary lens while this is pretty much Nikon’s first real version of this 24mm lens.

Nikon vs Canon in the 24mm f/1.4 lenses

These are prime lenses – they won’t zoom in and out without moving my feet. But because they are prime lenses you get really wide open aperture – which I consider critical to create artistic and almost ethereal photographs.

The Canon lens also costs $1699 and the Nikon is starting out at $2199. And my ultimate plan is to photograph with Nikon zoom lenses and Canon prime lenses.

My plans might change – I won’t be buying the 24mm till at least June – unless I score some serious bankroll.