Uploads from Extra Medium, tagged parents

Close-Knit Family

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

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.

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.

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?

Family of Three

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:24:25 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

A while back I shot this family because they wanted to capture their baby's innocence. Shooting babies this young (7 weeks) is not easy. They don't cooperate and it's hard getting a shot, even like this.

Special thanks to ErinV for helping out with the sloppy border. I figured it out, and I like it!

Father & Son

nobody@flickr.com (Extra Medium) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:09:46 -0800

Extra Medium posted a photo:

Most of the focus is spent on the mother and her newborn baby because it was her who gave birth, nursed the baby, etc. But the father also has a very strong, yet different connection to their child.

I remember a moment like this with my own child; just being able to touch, feel and experience his breath on me and just being so proud. A wave of thoughts of teaching him to ride a bike, going hiking, telling stories at night, the adventures of parenthood, seeing him graduate, seeing him off to preschool, college… all in this very instant of holding him close to me. You realize that everything you’ve made of yourself, all of your possessions, all of your accomplishments… none of that is as important as this. Suddenly you feel a huge sense of responsibility and obligation to teach this child everything you know, to protect him and to see he has the best life possible in front of him.

I don’t know what Eddie was thinking here with his 9-day old son Enrique, but his subtle expression helped me realize that being a parent isn’t just a responsibility, it’s a privilege. And I thank God every time I get to see my kids and play with them, discipline them, and even wasting time with them is time well spent.