Tag Archives: Wedding

The Un-intentional Photographer

Posted by on October 11, 2012 No comments

This last weekend was very exciting for us.  Sarah’s step-sister was getting married down in Richmond VA, so she got to spend the whole weekend down there doing very girly bridesmaid type things.  Meanwhile, I got to stay home with the pets and catch up on Fringe (I am in season 4 now, no spoilers!).  That is, until Sunday.  The plan was that Sunday morning, I would drop off the dog at the doggie-sitters house (Thanks Stacy!) and then pick up Sarah’s Grandma and head down for the wedding.  We would sit for the wedding and then go home and enjoy the extra day off on Monday.

Oh plans.

Remember kids, no battle plan survives first contact!  Most of the morning went fine, well, sort of. I had forgot the umbrellas, and to feed the rats, and a few other things, so I had an extra trip back to the house.  Now, I had heard a rumor that someone was expecting me down at the wedding early to snap some photos before the ceremony, but it was all rumor. No one actually said anything to me about it.  There was also a rumor that they were able to hire a photographer at the last minute.

When I arrived at the venue, I headed up to were the wedding party was preparing and noticed a lack of anyone taking pictures.  I had attending various weddings before and knew there there are some pictures that are on “The List”.  You know, those shots that are kind of important.  When I asked where the photographer was, they said she was downstairs.  I rambled my way down and found someone, standing at the doorway, with a “camera” around her neck.  She was just standing there.  Not shooting, not testing light levels, not scoping locations.  Just standing there.

I put “camera” in quotes because she held a Sony cybershot camera.  You know one of those crossover type cameras that aren’t quite a point and shoot, but not a DSLR.  Now I am not in a place to start calling out on equipment.  My Nikon D5100 is not a high end professional level camera.  It’s a crop DSLR meant for the level I use it at.  The weddings I have been to always had a photographer with high end gear.  Usually two people, with two camera’s each and lenses staged everywhere!  But even more important, THEY WERE TAKING PICTURES, not standing around.

Disgusted, I went and grabbed my gear (never leave home without it) and headed back upstairs.  The rest of the wedding, I took pictures.  After the ceremony, I quickly scoped locations in the area, arranged poses, and made sure that “The List” got fulfilled.  During the reception, I relaxed some and tried to let the “hired” photographers do their job. Oh yea, turns out that the girls husband also had a small camera and was shooting as well.  He, at least, made some effort to walk around and take some pictures.  She sat on her butt.

The last few days I spent sorting and processing and, while I am not the best wedding photographer in the world, I think I got some pretty great shots.  I took a total of 941 pictures and sorted out to process 135 of them.

[zenphotopress album=107 sort=random number=5]

https://www.wizzersworld.com/zen/Special%20Events/Emily%27s%20Wedding/

Disclaimer: I really hate to bitch about someone else trying out photography. Normally I would give all kind of kudos to someone branching out and trying something as daunting as wedding photography.  It’s stressful   as all hell, which is why I really try to NOT go about doing it.  BUT, if you are being PAID to take pictures at an event, TAKE PICTURES.

3 Years

Posted by on February 13, 2012 5 comments

My life is pretty wacky.  I am a pretty huge geek on a number of levels.  At 37 I still love to play video games, I love comic books (Batman > Superman), I own and have worn many different costumes from Superhero Spandex to StormTrooper Armor.  I sometimes collect various toys and still love to play with Legos.  I can discuss the inner workings of the Star Trek Holodeck and have seen the entire run’s of shows from Firefly to Doctor Who.

Just 10-15 years ago I would have been considered an Outcast to society, (some may still think that) but, I love who I am, and I love what I do.  I have many friends that think/act/enjoy like I do and those are my family.  Some people may look at me and think the typically “Bro” thing of “How do you ever date?”

Well, here is the secret.  Almost 5 years ago I met someone perfect.  She worked at a comic book store and we had so many of the same interests.  She loved to play her Super Nintendo on a tiny CRT screen and would stay up late nights playing Fallout 2.  She had assembled a Teen Titans Raven costume to wear and has a Batman tattoo.  It was a match made in Gotham.

3 years ago today we escaped out to Las Vegas to get hitched.  Family and friends were still there and it wasn’t weird.  I wore a suit, she wore a dress (which for us was still like wearing a costume).  Ever since that time, I am constantly amazed that we managed to find each other and still wonder/fear that this amazing dream will end.

I hope it never does.

Happy Anniversary Sarah!

Holy Cow, what a weekend!

Posted by on October 2, 2011 No comments

Just a quick note to let you know what I am working on.  This weekend was super busy.  I was given the chance to experiment with some Sports photography when the NOVA Roller Derby asked me to come and shoot their first match on Saturday!  I was super excited and also a little nervous since this was my first real shot at trying Sports Photography.  As I have learned, it’s a whole different beast from artistic or even portrait or posed photography.  Action is fast and you have to act to get the shot you want.  It certainly shed some light on some areas I need to improve on with my skill level (and some gear).  I ended up with roughly 1200 shots that need to be gone through and pull out the best of the best.  

As soon as the derby was finished I had to head down south to meet up with my friends Louis and Jen as they get ready for their wedding on Sunday!  We hung out the night before the wedding until late and then it was a full day on Sunday (for all of us, but them mostly).  I was not the prime Photographer for the wedding and was incredibly glad for that.  I really enjoyed the actual wedding and not stressing over getting the right shot.  I did, however, take a lot of Candid shots.  (About 350 before sorting).  The Wedding was amazing and we had a blast.  

So there we are, late Sunday night and I have about 1500 photos to sort through and the process the best.  I am totally exhausted.  I promise I will start working on photos tomorrow.