Light Brigade: A Shot in the Dark

Once upon a decision to shoot an engagement at Botanical Gardens' first annual Garden Glow (and not quite knowing what to expect), I was stoked to face the outdoor nighttime glow and apply some creative spot lighting. Outdoor low lit scenes are extremely challenging. With practically no light, no ceiling for soft bounce, and the desire to capture the beauty of holiday lights, my weapon impervious to darkness is bankably the off-camera flash and/or spotlight, requiring use of one or two tripods. I was gung-ho for this shoot.

Enter Botanical Gardens security: NO TRIPODS. Curses... Foiled by a public event! After a stupid attempt to hide a tripod in my coat, I discussed with my clients a new plan with hopes not to miss out on capturing some potentially great scenes in here. I'm glad they were open minded and had some faith in my backup plan which, though limiting, still produced some magical results.

However, these low light points need to be considered in any situation not allowing flash or tripod use:

• Capturing extremely dim ambient light requires slow shutter speeds and practically no movement from subjects or camera, otherwise motion blur happens. This limits subjects to stationary poses for clarity (unless movement blur is desired). I often pose couples in motion, so this is a limitation for me!
• Ambient color lighting effects will produce unnatural skin tone coloration. Magical within context, or it can be disruptive depending on the intent for the portrait.
• Tripodless spotlight can be achieved with use of a lighting assistant (an expense not often preferred for engagements), or from light being positioned from the ground if no ledges are nearby... however, low angled light communicates a mood of horror rather than romance. For example, my Halloween portraits.

Limitations considered, I'm fairly pleased with the lovely Christmas-lit imagery here. (See more on Facebook.) Holiday lighting is so ethereal and romantic! What wasn't romantic, however, in this location at the time of the Garden Glow event, was that so many people were around! (Some were 'shopped out of these hedge maze portraits.) Regardless, these two pulled off some great intimate moments, but feeling free to emote in the middle of a crowd isn't something everyone can pull off!

Birth Photography

What draws me consistently to this subject matter is simply that it's such a human experience, genuinely photojournalistic, undirected, raw and real emotions -- as real as anything my accessible subject matter can get. No expectations, no copycatting, no Pinterest board requests. Just a pure and honest desire to capture what really happens. I'll share my photographer's perspective here following my first "birth story", and give some artistic insights should The Reader be someone considering coverage for such a beautiful occasion.

I am very, very blessed to have been available to photograph my first live birth in 2013. Any time someone requests birth coverage from me, I feel blessed. It's such a huge thing. My main takeaway from the experience is that if you are a nostalgic-minded individual who just adores remembering those first short-lived moments of the very first joy you encountered seeing your child for the first time ever, you just can't afford not to have these moments captured. You'd be missing such sweet, genuine, poignant, emotional photographs the hospital photographer simply cannot give you. Every time I remember the day my son was born, I wish and wish I would have had someone there to capture real emotions, not snapshot images by family. Sorry, family -- they just aren't the same! The emotion is not there.

Watching through the overhead mirror.

Firstly, I must thank Mrs. Jessica Flores-Washington (a previous client) for giving me the opportunity to photograph she and her husband, Ben, on the day their son, Benjamin, was born. As soon as she invested her confidence in me to be there on birth day (around my other bookings, God willing), I had my bag packed, backup batteries charged and family members notified that I was on call for the job. I was prepared to shoot at weird hours and be there for however long I was needed. I hoped to be available during birth Prime Time: active labor, delivery and emotions shared first meeting baby.

I don't think I'd be comfortable with this subject matter if I hadn't already given birth myself. I think many mothers-to-be feel it's an odd time for professional photography (also feeling their least photogenic), or that they simply don't want items of graphic or personal nature photographed. To each her own. But in my design, the most graphic image covered is a slimy baby fresh out of the womb.

Birth photography is not about the anatomy of birth, it's about life happening, that brief moment in which a parent first sees his and her offspring, a moment which very rarely is captured, and can never again be reenacted.

I always had in mind to design birth photography not graphiccalle but emotionally. My focus is never the specifics of how the baby enters the world, it's the emotions which parents and families share surrounding the occasion. Those are priceless, priceless captures. Seriously, I cried when I saw this happening in front of me. I cried when editing these images. And also while proofreading this blog post! Faces, reactions, expressions, hands clasping, fingers touching, brand new family connections made. Fathers looking at babies wondering who this baby will become as he grows. It's so new. It's so raw and so real. The best part is that I'm purely an observer, and these emotions are authentic and tear-jerking without me having to direct someone to turn and face each other and "give me this feeling!" That's what the birth story is all about. That's what I love about it!

Dad's first look and son's first look at dad.

As a photographer mainly versed in weddings, birth photography is a breath of fresh air. I love the opportunity to be more personal with clients, to hang with their families and to photograph events with unsure outcome. Wedding photography has a lot of expectation (particularly those I term "Pinterest weddings", if you know what I mean). Being such a commercialized business nowadays, the wedding expectation can be creatively demanding. Birth photography is the exact opposite so far as I've been exposed, and I do hope [Pinterest doesn't screw it up!] it remains a wonderfully discreet, private niche and doesn't get over-commercialized. 

Some things I learned in the labor and delivery room. Many hospitals have restrictions for photographers, such as no admittance in c-section rooms, or only one person in the room with mom during epidural or drug administration. Many hospitals nowadays are trying to commercialize newborn in-hospital portraiture, but these services do not cover labor and delivery, nor are they as personalized. There are lots of nurses present during delivery, and I found it challenging to peek through their activities without getting in their way. If mom goes for an epidural, she may enjoy the experience much more and therefore give me plenty of big grins!

Mom's first kiss. Gosh, how can you miss a moment like that!

Artistic considerations. My telephoto lens worked great: I was distant enough from the action, but so close for emotions. Black and white: this may just be me, but reflecting on black and white feels so nostalgic. Hospital rooms aren't blooming with color, nor is fluorescent lighting particularly wonderful or dramatic. Other than a red little newborn with his pink tongue lashing, sometimes removing color draws due attention to emotion. It's a preference I'd leave up to the client in the end. Lighting: this is up to the mom-to-be obviously, but if she chooses to have room lights off at nighttime, lighting from doctor's workspace casts a wonderfully dramatic glow on faces rather than the fully lit fluorescent room. This is up to preference. I would never use flash during these moments; I would hide my presence completely.

I have extremely high respect for birth clients. I've designed a policy to keep all images completely private for them. Any images I publish (such as these), I ask individual consent per image. There are no Facebook sneak peeks unless the family decides they'd like one. 

I'd love to do more birth stories! Reaching this stage in my career has certainly matured me as a photographer. I love being a pure observer, a true photojournalist. I love being the one who can record these private emotions for families. I love that they can look back on birth day and revisit in-the-moment emotions no snapshot can convey. I love the atmosphere of love and concern which surrounds the bringing of a child into this world. I love the way new parents look at their newborn in the delivery room, an expression which truly only happens at that moment, the moment they look at their baby for the first time and say "Look what we did, we made this! He's here!"

Benjamin Caleb Washington III - born October 5th, 2013.

The "What Will I Wear!?" Guide for Portraits

"Where should we do portraits?" has a little sister called "How do we coordinate attire?". Since I've been asked this question so often, it's time to create an easy access answer you can take with you to your closet. This info applies to any type of photo shoot, although for babies I recommend no bold colors for parents (stick to whites, grays and pastels), because bold and bright tends to draw attention away from babies.

Before we get to my fun color concoctions, let's review the Don'ts of portrait attire planning:

Do Not wear super narrow stripes or thin plaids - they often register weird in digital photography, sometimes creating the illusion of contours where you don't want them.

Do Not wear super short skirts/shorts - IF you want picking-up, twirling around or sitting-on-interesting-things shots without posing limitation. Rule: If he can pick you up in a cradle hold and you don't have to grab at your skirt to try to cover your butt, you're good.

The major DO is: DO wear what feels like YOU. Go casual or formal, it's up to you.

Now for color scheme ideas! These arrangements were created by me, but please get inspired to incorporate colors and textures which speak to you.

Gem Tones

With the exception of Christmas colors (don't), bold, bright tones found in gemstones are rich and beautiful. Class it up with these, especially for an urban backdrop.

Monotone Multi-Shade 

Multiple shades of the same color. How fun would all greens in a forest be if you're a nature lovin' sort? Or all blues in a forest if you want to pop out from nature? Cuz you're awesome like that.

Nautical

Classic. Just don't do plaid with stripes, it's an either/or scenario. Light grey goes with pretty much anything.

Trendy Melon

Thank you, Target, for creating this eye-pleasing pair of colors which reminiscent of cantaloupe and honeydew. Also in the category is mint. I threw ice cream in there because it'd be cool to don these colors and go out for a towering mint chocolate chip ice cream cone.

As a designer, I'm a color-holic too. Checking out paint chip swatches is like going to a candy store for me.

Color + Location + Personality = Great Photos

If you pull any one of those factors out, it's a one-third weaker photo. The colors you choose need to coordinate and say "YOU" at the same time they compliment or add meaning to your location. If we can coordinate that and also throw in a coordinating prop to enhance the fun, you'll have some pretty stunning, color-popping portraits.

If you need further fashion cues, seek inspiration from ensembles found in Gap, Express, Forever21 or Urban Outfitters ads. Or whatever store floats your boat.

Brainstorms for Baby Cinematography

Nikhil crawls at 7 months

If the above video doesn't work for you on mobile, please see it here.

Being a new mom, I clearly succumb to the "everything my baby does is photogenic" mindset. Well, everything babies do is photogenic - everyone knows babies grow like weeds and their milestones are short lived, fast upcoming, and quickly passing. Plus, they're just so dang CUTE, how can you bypass such eye candy? As a capturer of moments, I greatly value the joy of making these moments special with multimedia keepsakes. Cinematography adds so much dynamism to photography. Space. Music. Movement. So special. PS - I term my style "cinematography" versus "videography" because anyone can make a video, but it takes artistry to make a storytelling cinematic motion picture.

As mentioned in recent newsletters, I've lately revisited my roots in cinematography and have been dabbling in hobbyist cinematography a little more now that I've got a little one (a crawler!). I haven't the space in my schedule to consider wedding cinematography, but I am certainly considering it for baby moments.

I'd like some feedback! Many previous clients are now having babies, and I'm curious on input regarding keepsake cinematography. I haven't yet considered how I'd package such a service, but I'd like to know what clients think of having these moving moments captured creatively. I'd also involve some still portraits as well (to be used in the movie or otherwise). Some angles to consider:

• Would you purchase a baby milestone cinematography service?
• How much would you invest in capturing those moments?
• What milestones would you definitely want covered? Birth? Crawling? Walking? First birthday?
• How would you like such media stored for keepsake purposes? Weblinks? Digital only? DVD in keepsake packaging?

Other things to consider: 

Obviously you can't plan a shoot around baby's actual first steps because you never know when they may occur. The design of the video would lead into the appearance that the milestone is first taking place that very moment. In the above video of my son, he was on his hands and knees with some movement a couple days before this was shot. In two days' time, he was crawling in the real sense of the term, but I highlighted some of his slow-to-start moments (hand and feet closeups) to show his journey from trial to execution.

Music. For me it's a huge sentimentality factor, and it can really make or break a motion picture. Creating videos has long since given slideshow-creating photographers headaches because the cool music (anything popular and created in the past 90 years) is all copyrighted and simply cannot [lawfully] be used for commercial purposes. I'd have to explore some royalty free options and collect some cool ones for clients to choose from. It's not the same as that really special-to-you piece you have in mind, I know. I'd have to research what's doable here. I'm clearly not selling the video I posted here, but I've used a piece from the Amelie soundtrack which just jolts me with childhood nostalgia every time I hear it, so I had to use it.. but I wouldn't be able to if this was something I'm selling to a client. Mainly Facebook and YouTube (and probably other sites - but not Blogger!) won't allow copyrighted music to be posted, so you wouldn't be able to share your video there if you didn't use the not-as-cool royalty free music.

Anyway, some thoughts! I'd love your feedback on this brainstorm. Please comment!

"Unplugging" Your Wedding: Are Guests Going to Ruin Your Photos?

Great shot! If that guest's flash wasn't hogging the limelight. Thanks, guest!

This is a very modern and heavily debatable topic I've seen posed by other photogs a lot lately, so I thought it of note to discuss here even if it hasn't much affected my work (yet). There are two parts to the matter: Guest flash interference and guest phone-face showing up in backgrounds. Truly, what are the odds that guest interference will happen to land on the very same critical shot I'm taking? If that potential is critical to you, then this topic is worth discussing.

Although guest flash- or phone-face bombs haven't happend to me in excess, I have anyway (comically) started a Pinterest board highlighting occasions when this actually has happened to me. It's a unique wedding concern born from the fact that everyone partaking in a wedding these days is overly connected to multimedia and also thinks they have the right of way in capturing events, even if that means stepping in front of a pro to do so. These media crashers are beginning to fill wedding backgrounds not with beaming smiles or tearing eyes, but instead with phones or cameras in front of their faces. I've seen it in excess even from parents of the couple, and that does bother me. "Screen face" versus "emotional face" is what I see here when I review the images. It kinda gets to me.

Particularly, I'm borrowing this topic from this Huffington Post article written by Corey Ann, an award winning Ohio wedding photographer, which I thought was very well written to the degree that brides must now consider this factor when it comes to photography. All images in this blog are borrowed from Corey Ann Photography, who collected this amalgamation of guest mishaps during her 6 years of shooting weddings.

Nice. There's no way you can 'shop out that guest.

I never have personal issues with guests at weddings I cover. I more so just figure that people jumping in the way is part of the territory and up to the photographer to clamber around them or position herself so that the camera-faced guest does not appear in the background of a poignant shot. That, OR it's just photojournalism; if that's how your family is, then that's how your photos will portray them. To a degree, certain mishaps are avoidable. But some (above) are not avoidable, and for the paranoia of a guest screwing up shots like this, I'm lead to urge clients to consider this modern topic. Dear Client: How much leeway should your guests have? It really is up to you (not me)!

Here's what your average congregation guest now looks like.

I wish I could say this was taken by a second photog and that guy is the prime photog, but.. you know. Guests gotta get their shots.

As a professional, it is not on my tact-ometer to fend off my clients' guests as would be required in those scenarios. In truth, it is up to the bride and groom to announce an "unplugged" wedding and to take initiative to focus their guests on their moment of marriage rather than capturing everything and posting it to social media before the couple even knows about it. According to Corey Ann, many a first look has been thwarted by the update-happy guest who posts the moment to Facebook before the bride and groom even step off the altar!

Hey, Grandpa! I actually do see this a lot.

For real, many of these reception guest mishaps can be avoided by the photographer, or Photoshopped out, but [to save editing time] it takes your photog extra effort to position herself on the dance floor, or to jump to the other side of it within the duration of a 3-4 minute song and try to fit in the best moments while on time constraint plus guest constraint! I can also say the same challenge is true of having two photographers and/or a videographer (one always gets in some shots). Just sayin'. But I'm a photographer and I like emotional, magazine-type moments and "gear" in shots really bugs me. It kills me when I see my own tripod darkening a doorway somewhere.

This made me cry a little inside. Even a second photog would have a botched shot (from the other side!).

Red light on her shoulder is a digital camera's low light focus beam.

Some couples probably don't mind too much with guest interference, and as a client-driven service provider I say that if the couple doesn't mind, I don't mind. But couples who have issue with the visual "litter" of people jumping into professional shots to get their own non-professional shots should honestly consider instigating an "unplugged" wedding. Sometimes recording something with your eyes and with your heart is really the best way to remember a moment. Here's a quote from Corey Ann's article, a minister preceded one ceremony by saying (at the request of the couple): 

"Please, turn off your cell phones and put down your cameras. The photographer will capture how this moment looks -- I encourage you all to capture how it feels with your hearts, without the distraction of technology."

Hear hear!

Deconstructing the "First Look"

A vineyard scape first look approached from multiple angles by two photographers. The bride coordinates with a preliminary phone call to her groom.

To date, 35% of my wedding couples are doing an off-altar, pre-ceremony "first look". The rest are sticking to tradition and seeing each other for the first time at their ceremony. However, it does appear that the occurrence of "first-looking" is increasing, as well as a rising preference for what you get with such an event. This article highlights some things to consider regarding the benefits of a first look and different methods of choreographing one with your photographer.

A carefully positioned first look (with the burst of sunset behind). His smile upon seeing her was classic!

Benefits of "First Looking"

Really the only non-benefit of doing a first look is relinquishing the tradition of seeing each other for the first time as you walk down the aisle. If that's significant to you, don't feel pressured to do a first look. If you're otherwise open to doing something a little different, consider the following:

• If your reception follows your ceremony immediately and there isn't much time (or daylight) for bridal party and couple portraits, staging an earlier first look allows as much time as needed for photos.
• Seeing each other for the first time in a private setting rather than stared down by your ceremony congregation allows for much more authentic, natural emotions to be captured.
• The locale, timing and space granted by most first look scenes allows many more shots and angles to be captured of both your expressions than most at-ceremony first looks.

One of my favorite first look encounters, they both just had so much emotion and excitement about each other. I love how bashful and giggly she looks in the bottom middle image as he exclaims about her gown, and how he "models" his suit for her in the next shot.

Types of First Looks

Keep in mind that the peak emotion of a first look is often a very brief moment. First looks are most photographically successful with careful planning on when and where they happen. Space, perspective and time of day are all specific factors. If you recruit two photographers for your event you'll obviously get more angles of your first look; however, the following scenarios were figured taking just one photog into consideration. I've invented the titles of these first look types to simplify them.

The "Creeping Bride" first look is the most common and easiest to coordinate with one photographer. Photographer faces groom, bride approaches from behind groom, bride often taps groom on shoulder (or other personalized interaction), photographer moves around them, not interfering, capturing as much as possible from as many angles as possible. Choreography could be reversed for a "Creeping Groom", but most brides wish to see their groom before he sees his bride.

A "Creeping Bride" first look. I love when a groom can't get enough of his bride's fashion.

The "Each Perspective" first look requires more interference from the photographer (if only one photog is used). Choreography can follow the same course of action as the "Creeping Bride", but the photog approaches each the bride and groom separately, stopping them at some points to move between them and capture perspectives from each respectively.

An "Each Perspective" first look: Hers from behind and his from front not knowing when she'll reach him. This was shot by two photographers in a vineyard (a first look locale where I recommend two photogs).

Another "Each Perspective" first look capturing her thoughtful emotions as she approaches.

The "Blind Encounter" is an outside-of-the-box first look in which the bride and groom encounter each other and may even stand side by side, but remain eyes-closed, blindfolded or face-blocked by a bouquet, hands or other props. They can choose thereafter to look upon each other OR to resist and still not actually see each other until the ceremony. The latter may be a good option for those mod/traditional mixers who want the best of both worlds. I have yet to stage the following, but full bridal party as well as couple photos could even be done without the bride and groom even seeing each other. Intimate shots would just have to be done with their eyes closed! I think it'd be cute. Different! Intimate.

A "Blind Encounter" first look. They actually still did not see each other until the ceremony. (Their portrait and kissing shots above were done post-ceremony.)

The "Item Dividing" first look is one in which an item such as a door (both holding on to the knobs), raised bouquet, veil or other item of interest divides the couple and is lifted or peeked around for the reveal.

Tips

• Make sure bouquets and rings are present at the first look scene. Formal shots require these items.
• Bad weather happens, but if forced to be indoors for a first look, choose as non-public a space as is available. It's tacky for tourists and passersby to watch you and show up in the background of your intimate moment (passersby happen most often in hotels or popular sections of historic locales).
• Plan ahead and specify your ideal first look choreography with your photographer to allow for the best capture of the event. This may include scouting the locale together.
• Choose a first look locale that has significance to you or has a backdrop that suits your wedding day style. Consult with your photographer for ideas.
• Plan on your first look moment, couple portraits and bridal party portraits all taking at least an hour (in one location, not considering any travel time if applicable).

I hope this gives a good perspective on what to expect with first looks. Thanks again to Brittni (one of my autumn brides) for inquiring about first look visuals and giving me the topic for this blog. I hope these first look composites are helpful!

Location Crusade: Indoor "Outdoor" Spots

As the date of a portrait session approaches, the most common question I get is "Do you have backup ideas in case of rain (or cold)?" Of course I do! My job is to locate stuff like this for you. As a matter of fact, I'm always on the lookout, and I occasionally update my location crusade blogs. I actually have an agenda now, as I begin encouraging engagement couples to shoot more in cold months to spread out the workload which overlaps spring and autumn weddings.

Digressing from my Indoor Downtown St. Louis post, my new indoor location preference highlights spaces I don't have to bring so much lighting equipment for, because these spaces are already lit by the outdoors: Greenhouses! Bringing the outdoors indoors. What a novelty. Here are my favorite ones.

Botanical Gardens: Linnean House

($8 garden admission, $4 if you're a St. Louis city resident)

Also, here's a family session and a baby session I shot at Linnean House. It's so colorful; great place for kids.

Botanical Gardens: Climatron

($8 garden admission, $4 if you're a St. Louis city resident)

About a block's walk from Linnean House. There are waterfalls! Temperature ranges 70-80 degrees during daytime, year round.

 Faust Park: Butterfly House

($6 admission)

There are butterflies! And waterfalls!

Faust Park: Carousel

($2 admission, separate from Butterfly House)

In case the butterflies freak you out.

Greenhouses are top choice indoor locales in my opinion, but I prefer nature and soft, diffused outdoor lighting. A thing to keep in mind, however, is that these spaces are not very private for the intimate appeal of engagement sessions, especially on weekends when floods of families are present. If that's a thought which affects you, I highly recommend shooting here on weekdays when you'd more or less have the whole place to yourself, save for a few elderly folks or an infrequent school field trip.

These locales can also work for bridal parties, although Botanical Gardens' policy won't allow parties or even bridal couples in for photography unless their wedding is booked at the gardens. Faust Park also offers wedding venue services, but I'm not sure what their policy is on bridal photography if your event is not held there.

Food for thought. Now we can beat Mother Nature during cold months and go for the greenhouse effect!

Make YOU Come Through: Engagement Ideas

One of the most exciting things about photographing people is when they have a clear and unique idea how to express themselves for a portrait. You can have a hum drum sit-and-smile photo session, or you can incorporate nuances about yourselves that crack you up, make you blush, or otherwise open you up to authentically being yourself with your other half. Plus, a personalized idea can be enhanced tenfold by the location you choose. Get inspired and check out these couples' unique engagement session ideas!

1940's Vintage Airplane

He's a pilot. She's vintageously creative. Bam. My most memorable engagement to date. See more from their session here.

Chicagoans Unite

A healthy dose of the Bears and 'staches from this couple who now call Chi Town their home. See more from their session here.

World's Fair-ness

This couple has a 1904 World's Fair themed wedding; they thought they'd incorporate it into their engagement portraits as well. Enhanced with aged photo effects. See more from their session here.

Car-noisseurs

They share a passion for muscle cars. So I took them to a field and shot them enjoying their vrooms. See more from their session here.

Tap into what locations and themes speak to you as a couple. Touch on things you enjoy doing together and get creative. Go against the grain! And have fun doing it.

More Ideas

Do you enjoy wine? Take your shoot to a vineyard for some spectacular landscapes and grape themes.

Are you outdoorsy? Trek somewhere you can both engage in adventurous activities together.

Recreate your proposal. Same place, same time, same reaction if you can!

Love hanging out in a particular spot in town? Take your shoot there and do what you love doing.

Movie nerds? Re-create the semblance of your favorite movie scene. Dress the part if it suits!

Where did you first meet? Maybe it makes a great backdrop for a re-creation of when you first laid eyes on each other.

I love when couples have different and unique ideas, and I'm always willing to try what you have in mind. But if you're not a creative person, ask me for some thoughts on what will make your engagement session memorable. I'll be stoked to brainstorm with you!