Be Mine: Putting Your Best Face Forward

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

If my recent foray onto Pinterest is to be believed, the truth today is that a single lady in possession of an Internet connection, must be in want of a wedding. There are boards festooned with dresses, flowers and a million little pieces that will one day be whipped into a wedding like cream into butter. Unfortunately, one thing stands in the way for women in want of a husband and men in want of a wife.

Your terrible self-portraits.

Click to read more ...

A Little Different: Sports and the Wedding Photographer

When I stepped into the arena, I was already a few minutes late for the game. The crowd roared as the sound of the puck snapping back and forth over the ice between players reverberated in the air. I'd never shot hockey before, I'd barely even watched the sport outside of the antics of Gordon Bombay and his gang of scrappy rascals. and as the little black puck whipped over the ice I felt momentarily overwhelmed.

It was a familiar feeling. I'd experienced it three years ago as I stepped out of my car into a misty New England afternoon to meet my first bride and take her pictures. I clutched the rented camera tightly in my hand. In my whole life, I'd only been to a few weddings in my life and for a second I felt overwhelmed, after all, this was supposed to be the most important day in this couple's life and their memories were in my hands.

Shooting sports and shooting weddings have a lot more in common than a first glance would tell you. Both are fast paced and high pressure shoots, where you need to be on your toes or the important moments will pass right by you. Each has their own flow and rhythm that a seasoned professional can anticipate to get great shots. Of course, with all photography there are fundamental skills that will help you make great photos.

Click to read more ...

More Tips For Holiday Photos

A version of this article originally appeared in The Yankee Clipper.

As the leaves turn and the air gets a chill, thoughts of the holidays start to appear. It’s a time of year when friends and family gather together to celebrate the times that were and the year that will be. Often it’s the only time you’ll see some people all year, so it’s a great opportunity for pictures.

“Two of my most important reminders for the family photographer are to lower your expectations, and keep the camera ready but remember to stay in the moment,” said Cindy Dow, of Wood Brook Photography and associate editor for the Middleborough Gazette.

Snapshots are about capturing moments and memories. The best holiday photographs spark a memory of a special time that you shared with the people you care about, not the ones that you want to hang in an art gallery.

“Sometimes we can have our ideal image so clearly etched in our minds that the kids end up in tears and we end up frustrated because we aren't getting what we're striving for, when what we ought to be striving for is the happy memories we want the pictures to portray,” Dow added.

Staying in the moment is a lot easier when you get to know your camera. Read the manual and practice, the great advantage of digital is that you can review what you shot right away and keep trying until you’ve found the problem. This way when you have your camera in hand you won’t miss those little moments – like a child unwrapping a present – because you used the wrong setting.

Ken Sutton, owner of K-Ellis Photocenter at 37 Faunce Corner Rd. in North Dartmouth, has heard a lot of horror stories of dads pulling out new cameras from a package and causing a lot of frustration while trying to figure out the latest gadget. To prevent this struggle, Sutton had two suggestions:

“Go back to the old camera that you know, rather than sitting around and waiting for the photographer to get the picture right,” he said.

The second is to consider giving the instruction manual to the camera a little early. While this gift might spoil the surprise of a brand new camera, it will certainly help to better capture those special holiday memories.

Getting to know a camera also starts at the store when you’re deciding what camera to purchase. The market for digital cameras is incredibly competitive and Sutton said that by sticking to name brand manufacturers you could find a great camera to fit any budget. A knowledgeable sales staff can help you know what might work best for shooting pictures of sports, taking videos, or even for gifting to the least tech savvy on your list.

Perhaps the most important tip of all this holiday season is that photos are meant to be shared with family and friends. While Facebook and e-mail have made it easy to share photos with loved ones around the country and around the world, it’s easy for those special images to get drowned out in the holiday rush. Printing and sharing your photos in a card or in a frame is a great way to make an image stand out and be remembered.

“Nothing is as impersonal as an e-mailed picture,” Sutton said.

Four Tips for Your Holiday Photos

More light isn't always better: Avoid photographing outdoors at noon because the bright light casts harsh shadows. If you must photograph outdoors in bright lights, using your flash might help eliminate those shadows.

The bright lights: While holiday lights really sparkle at night, you can get great shots of holiday decorations in the hour just before sundown when you can see the lights and the landscape they decorate.

Group Grief: When taking pictures of groups don't just stop at one. Try to get three or four pictures so you can pick out the one with the fewest blinks and best expressions.

Fall Foliage: Fall is a beautiful time of year in New England, and a great backdrop for your photos. The fall colors really come alive in your camera right after it rains when the leaves are still wet.

Of course, the most important tip is to just put down that camera and enjoy the holidays. Look for more tips for holiday buying, getting to know your new camera and more over the next few months.

What to Wear II: Electric Boogaloo

It's often said that the clothes make the man, I don't know if I agree with that but as a photographer I know that they can make or break a photoshoot. When picking an ensemble to wear before a photoshoot (it's a little different at a wedding), you want to think not just about what is flattering but what you're trying to say in your photo story.

Above is an image I shot for a client who was looking to get back into the dating pool for a little bit of fun. So what outfit there was selected to highlight areas the subject wants to show off (well-defined arms and nipple piercings). Of course what you want to say isn't always so blatant, but you always want to bring out the good, hide the bad and show yourself off in your photos.

General Wardrobe Tips:

• Keep it simple. Unless you're well-known for your quirky sense of fashion don't go all out for a shoot, clashing prints and patterns draw attention away from you and toward your clothes.
• Accessories to avoid: Hats tend to cast shadows on the face and flashy jewelry causes the same problems as clashing patterns (though nice earrings or a necklace can bring attention back to you).\
• For group portraits, coordinate outfits. This does not mean that everyone should wear the same outfit (I do not ever want to see any of my work on Awkward Family Photos), you should pick complimentary colors and patterns.
• Darker colors tend to be slimming, as are vertical stripes. This doesn't mean you have to dress all in black (please don't, also black on black stripes is just silly).
• Don't forget personal grooming, a bit of bed head can be cute but not everyone can pull it off. Going to a professional before a shoot can be a great treat (just don't do anything too radical) and the lads can sometimes benefit from a little attention just as much as the ladies.

Bridal Tips:

• A bridal session can be a great way to use a makeup or hair test if you don't want to wait until after your honeymoon or delay that trip even for a few hours.
• Outdoors a white sheet can help avoid staining of the dress when shooting (or even a discrete plastic sheet).
• If you're really nervous about damaging the dress, schedule the session after your wedding.

Boudoir/Glamour Tips:

• Wear loose fitting, smooth items before your shoot as tight clothing can leave red marks that don't flatter (this also applies to carrying heavy shoulder bags).
• Bring several more clothing options than you think you'll need, you can mix and match and sometimes you'll hae more time than you'd think.
• Clothing doesn't have to be revealing to be flattering or sexy, if you have problem areas a little covering (even if it is a bit sheer) can open up a lot of avenues for posing.
• Stockings and hose can help accent and slim the legs.
• If you're planning on baring your feet, make sure they're clean because even a couple of steps across a tidy floor can accumulate a little dirt.

Naturally there are dozens of body types and a myriad of choices to make, so experiment with your own camera or a mirror and see what suits you best.