Uploads from Extra Medium, tagged family

Photography Class

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:15:40 -0700

For the fifth summer in a row I’ll be teaching two classes on Digital Photography at the Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District located in Camarillo. There are two classes (beginning & advanced) and both are open to non-Camarillo residents as well. The classes will be every Wednesday starting June 26 and going for 10 weeks! This will give us all enough time to fully go through our cameras and be comfortable with it as well as try out some projects during the summer. We’ll probably have two different field trips as well.

You’re welcome to look at the Activity Guide via the link here and then make sure you select the Summer 2013 Activity Guide. The classes are on Page 17 right in the middle above the Etiquette class and below the class on how to play Bridge. My class will be a little more energetic than those two.

As you can see from the guide I photographed the cover as well. This cover however was a planned photoshoot a few months ago. We asked some volunteers to come to one of the Camarillo parks and we situated them in various positions/configurations in order to get a good commercial feel, while keeping enough space around the main area of the photo for copy. Unfortunately the final version got oversharpened a bit by the publisher.

Sign up and meet others interested in taking photos. It’s a social class and there’s a good core of people who take it year after year just for the social/fun aspect of it. I’ll be challenging the advanced class a bit more this year however. Bring your a-game.

Belly Pyramid in the Grass

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:33:18 -0700

Extra Medium posted a photo:

From the looks of things I’ve been doing a lot of maternity shoots lately. Yep. This one was for a referral client who wanted some natural maternity photos in a grassy area. So I took her to one and they wanted their son’s name in blocks on the belly. Took me a little bit to figure out a way for them to stay on her belly, so laying her in tall grass was the trick. This would have been a lot easier if they would have named their son Bob.
This weekend I’m doing my wife’s maternity photos, and she’s excited. I hope I do a good job because I have to live with this customer!

Close-Knit Family

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:00:15 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

For a while now I’ve been transitioning away from doing prop-driven newborn photography and trying to keep the photos more natural and about the baby and family. For a while there it was all about props and knit hats and accessories which made the baby cute but took away from who he or she was. I’m phasing out of my newborn business with the possible exception for existing clients. While they enjoy the photos I find myself struggling in a market full of women who specialize in this type of portraiture. While I’m not afraid of competition, I see that this unique market of photography is something my passion, instincts and creativity isn’t geared toward.

I find myself ridiculing those photographers who over-prop, over-expose, and over-manipulate photos to achieve a mood contrary to the original photo. Maybe I’m just coming out of my bitter-old-man shell, but the heart of my photography is with a more photojournalism approach. I’m careful to capture what is happening organically and do what I can to get the shot right in-camera.

I’ve spoken with other “photographers”, typically much younger than me who admit to spending HOURS on a single photo so the resulting image is more of a creation of art than a single-moment capture of what was really there. I think that’s why I enjoy weddings, red carpets and other types of portraiture more than propped-out newborns or this whole genre of creative self-portraiture/expansions.

Maybe this philosophy will lead me to less business. I’m okay with that. If I’m not taking photos the way I want, then I shouldn’t be doing it.

Grumpy Family Photo

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:42:02 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

I think I counted doing close to 30 family photos last year, and every one of them wanted to have that group photo of everyone looking straight ahead with award-winning natural smiles on their faces. But we know that’s not the typical emotion felt around the house, so with this one I asked them to all give me a pouty face. I literally had time to snap this one shot before they all busted up laughing. See, personality is fun. And we did get that all-smiles shot as well.

Now for bonus points one of these lovely ladies are pursuing acting. Which pouty female here do you think it is?

Punishment for Kids Who Don't Listen

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:49:24 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

Monday morning. Back at work. A lot of people complain about this very time of day. Not me. Not today. I had five shoots this weekend starting Friday evening at the beach for a family shoot. Then a great engagement session on Saturday, followed by a family shoot at a park, quick maternity shoot for my wife and then a wedding at a country club last night. Edited until about 11pm last night. Today I woke up hung over. Not literally, but I feel like I got beat up. Ended up editing all the family photos, most the engagement, all the maternity and 150 of the wedding photos. I feel like I accomplished something!

But I still need to take down the Christmas lights.

This is the kind of family photo get when the 18mo and the 3yo aren’t listening to direction from the photographer and smiling when asked. This was yesterday morning.

Happy Monday

I Love Sunsets

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:26:49 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

Wishing you all that you could ever hope for this Christmas season. I hope that God blesses you all with health and happiness, time with your friends & family, and that never-ending sunset.

Up, Up and Away!

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:08:26 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

The best thing about doing multiple family photos in a weekend is catching up with them, almost like the way your dentist does.

“So how was your vacation this year?” “How’s business?” “tilt your head back a bit more…” “Kids doing okay at school… uh huh…”

It was beneficial this time because I was asking the moms about their experiences with pregnancy since my wife is having a hum-dinger of a time with hers. She’s out of her first trimester now, but the fatigue/nausea/hormones seem to still be getting the best of her. So each mom was nice to open up about their experiences which I relayed to my wife. It was good to hear she wasn’t the only one having a tough time. Some had it easy while others were sick the entire time.

All in all, the weekend was crazy but worth it. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my entire Facebook wall littered with family photos that I took. Not for ego reasons, but just to see that my service is something valued. And I think that’s all we really want in life… validation and respect for our work. And maybe to hit EXPLORE once since April…. You hear me Magic Donkey!!!?

15 Families in One

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 15:24:08 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

This past Thursday I did absolutely nothing except help make and eat dinner. I went to bed early. The following three days I had 17 scheduled family shoots in three locations and was hoping the weather would cooperate with all of them. Three families cancelled/postponed due to health/scheduling conflicts, but all the other ones showed up, had an amazing time, met some new friends and reconnected with others. 15 total families, 2213 photos taken, 23 hours of editing and lots of leftover turkey.

Yesterday after completing the last shoot, I came home, kissed my wife and then literally passed out on the carpet in front of her in the living room, where she promptly recorded me snoring on her iPhone. Those who I photographed know how much effort I put into getting kids to smile and look my direction. God knows how many random voices, characters, empty promises about buying them ponies and dinosaurs and jumping around I did in order to get kids happy and smiling. Today I felt hungover, and it was all worth it.

I used my Nikon D700 for the day at the beach since I didn’t want to subject my D4 to any unneeded sand or wind. After using my D4 for months now, I really see how much faster it focuses and sharper the photos are.

The inspiration for these shoots was to help pay for our baby due in May. I forgot how much diapers, wipes, cribs, changing tables and these crazy-new high-tech strollers cost!

Thankful for a Great Sunset

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 12:30:31 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

You never know when you’re going to have a photoshoot and meet new friends in the process. I met this young family on top of a hill in Santa Barbara yesterday afternoon and they were all just so amazingly sweet. They’ve used another photographer for years to document their family photos, but due to scheduling needed to find someone else. I was that guy. We haggled over location, and ended up at Ellings Park, where I photographed a wedding a couple years ago as well as one of my first engagement sessions. The kids were super cool and mostly listened. By the end of the afternoon I saw the clouds giving some good color so I asked to get some last minute shots with the sunset, so they obliged.

I hope you and YOUR family have an amazing Thanksgiving. And if you’re not from America, have a good day at work/school tomorrow. I’m going to be in my pajamas until 4pm.

Field of Love

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:43:43 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

I think my favorite part of photography is being able to share the experiences of my clients with them. I knew Travis & Jack from church and was fortunate enough to photograph their engagement and their wedding and now they are 9mo pregnant and ready to welcome their daughter into the world. What a blessing. I snuck these photos in 25 minutes while Dylan was sleeping on Monday afternoon.

Thank you to those of you who continue to find and use me as I feel more and more called to being able to serve in this capacity. I hope I’ll be able to continue for a long time.

I Smell A Lemon

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:30:38 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

One of the great things about doing a photoshoot is showing up and the client asks you, “okay, so where are going to shoot?” And I respond… “I don’t know, lets see… “ And then walking around surveying up the lighting (first) and the location(second) and then once you can envision it, all you do is work on posing them (the “look). Thus, the “Three L’s of Portrait Photography”.

Yesterday I showed up at a rural ranch that the family lived on and it only took a minute to find this lemon orchard and tell them to look lovingly at each other. Sometimes being totally unprepared yields the most natural, candid-like results. I mean… plenty of families like to dress up and walk through lemon orchards together looking at each other, right?

Kissing under the Chaos

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:26:00 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

Daiana and I went to middle and high school together. She’s always had such a bright and vibrant personality so when she asked me to do their annual family portrait, I knew they’d be up for something fun. Westlake was in full color last weekend so I found this leafy spot on the side of the road and posed them. (below). The kids kept grabbing the leaves so I asked the parents if it’d be okay for them to throw the leaves on them, and they went along with it! MAN how I love it when a client is willing to “take one for the team” in order to get a fun shot.

This year will be by FAR my record for doing family photography. I think I might be doing some after the new year as well, so if you’re in the area… let me know!

Future Royalty

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:47:56 -0700

Extra Medium posted a photo:

I had Abigail* in my most recent photography class over the summer and she asked me a few weeks ago if I could photograph her family since they have never had something like that done before. I was honored and brought out my awesomely ugly Victorian settee out into the fields and captured her and her family pretty easily. When your family is this ridiculously good looking, it’s pretty easy. Well, that is unless you use a giant lollipop as a prop, and then not let them finish it all.the.way.to.the.end. Then of course, you might have problems. Especially if it’s close to dinnertime.

The rest of their family photos I posted in their own gallery on the fan page. Check it out and let me know your opinion on them.

I might also be having a BangBangBang family session day coming up in late November. Maybe even the day after Thanksgiving if you’re close to the 805 and want a couple shots of your family. Flickrmail me if you’re interested and I’ll see if there’s enough interest to hold one of these.

Better Luck Next Time

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Sat, 07 May 2011 12:10:28 -0700

Extra Medium posted a photo:

Been a while since I’ve had a newborn shoot, and I forgot how fun and aggravating it can be. The result was great, but I was really, really trying to get ”The Shot” which I’ve been unsuccessful the previous 4 sessions. Seriously newborn babies do NOT want to do this for you. So I will again try the next time.

Trenton was great to work with. He was awake most of the time, but for being only 8 days old, only peed (on the dad) once while I was there. Such a pleasure working with this family again as I have done their engagement, her boudoir, their wedding, her car shoot and now their newborn. Clients for life. I can handle that. More of their newborn shots on my Facebook page.

Below are some other classic ~~FAILS~~ out takes from the newborn session

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Love is Still Possible

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:48:03 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

Sunday afternoon was warm and sunny and the day before Valentine’s Day. I had been planning on photographing the Antrim family for some time now, so finally schedules and weather cooperated and we made our way to Paramount Ranch in Agoura, Ca, very close to where I grew up. Their 2yo is so friendly and full of energy. Quietly shy but loves it when you make funny faces. I’m not going to say she was easy to work with, but she really was able to deliver an album full of beautiful shots. Can’t hurt that she’s not only adorable but that shirt and tutu also help.

Now I HAD three engagement shoots planned for this weekend but we have rain Wed-Sat. One couple still wants to do their engagement shots in the rain. Anyone have any suggestions?

He Smiled!

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:39:58 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

From the thumbnail this photo might not be the most amazing photo I’ve ever taken, but considering the family has been trying to do a family shoot with me since last May, they were excited for our 20 minutes together at a suburban park near LA. PLUS, we got their 11mo son to actually look at the camera and smile. Do you have any idea how HUGE that is??

The winter is supposed to be my free time to shoot, hang out, catch up, etc. But what it’s turned into is a myriad of coordinating schedules, travel, and other stuff. Plus, I’m trying to buy my first house, so learning the whole system of home mortgages, short sales, house inspections, interest rates, etc. But it’s a fun process.

Any of you buy a house recently and had good/bad experiences? Any unexpected surprises?

Happiness is Suburbia

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:40:43 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

When it comes down to it, it really is all about your family. A great job, a fast car, knowing movie stars, traveling the world, having a hot body, winning the lottery, being able to juggle… none of that matters if you don’t have someone to come home to at night and talk about it with. I used to be that trendy single guy living in LA, convertible sports car, trendy glasses, tight-fitting clothes… but who really cares except me?

Now I'm a recovering metrosexual with a 5yo family car with a tent in the hood, a raging beer gut, I’m thousands in debt and I go to sleep before 10pm sometimes. But I have a family who loves me and would rather hang out with me wearing sweat pants throwing the Frisbee around than anything else in the world*. And I’m happier now than those years in LA when I was a total tool.

Passion

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:16:07 -0700

Extra Medium posted a photo:

Photographed this young family last week, and today he sails off from San Diego on a 6-9month mission to the Middle East with the Navy. This was the last photo taken of the two of them before he set off on his deployment, and you can easily see the passion in their lives for each other is still very present.

In addition to the 7 (of 11) students from my class who showed up at the Ventura Pier yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting Marc and Carrie as well. Thanks for dropping by and next time I’m less busy instructing it will be fun to hang out and capture a sunset somewhere sometime. All we missed last night was…. the sunset.

No Clouds = No Bueno

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:44:25 -0700

Extra Medium posted a photo:

I was trying to convey to my photography students the importance of clouds in a photo taken outside and how much it can add to the shot. “Well what happens when you don’t have clouds?” was the obvious retort. You could cheat and add your own clouds in but no respectable person would ever do that. So I told them to be creative, maybe focus more on what is below, or put more of an emphasis on the subject, or limit how much sky you include.

Either way, a good cloud-day is better than a great day of almost anything else. Well except when someone buys you sushi.

The rest of their session on my FB fan page.

Meeting up in Ventura next Wednesday, July 27th at the base of the pier at 6pm!

The Queen is Resting

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:50:36 -0700

Extra Medium posted a photo:

Dana contacted me about 2 weeks ago asking for family photos before her husband gets deployed for a year. I told her that the weekend before I bought this ugly/awesome Victorian settee and my vision was to use it in some grassy field towards sunset. She loved the idea, but since I only own a family sedan, had NO way of taking it anywhere. Luckily they owned a large truck and were willing to pick me and my couch up and drive 40min into the Malibu hills and set it up. We then packed it up and headed to the beach where we left it in the back of the truck across from Neptune’s Net and finished our photos at sunset. I was more concerned with people jacking my sofa than I was with the sunset, but we still managed to have a pretty good time overall.

The rest of their session can be found on my Facebook Fan Page. I’m only 23 likes away from 1000. Whoever is that special #1000 will get the top secret recipe for my morning coffee. Believe you me, that alone is worth almost $2.39 itself.

Also, I might be going to Indiana in a couple weeks. Anyone from around Indy?