question time...

I sometimes get people email me with questions about photography or the business and one day last week I wrote on my Facebook page that if anyone had any questions then pop them below and I'll do a little blog post.. thinking that nobody was gonna ask a question.. *cue tumble weed*

Well it seemed that you guys did have a few questions.. quite a few in fact.. (I'm always surprised as I actually thought I wouldn't get anything) so what was going to be one tiny blog post.. might just have to become a few.. :)

So I've chosen a few questions for this post and will be following it up in the next few weeks with some more... (oh yeah.. and sorry for rambling....)

What was the thing you found most difficult in your first year of business, and how did you overcome it?

My first year was a roller coaster.. one of those really scary ones that flip you upside down and then jerk you in a different direction when you least expect it.  We had booked 30 weddings in our first year and pretty much hit the ground running so I think our biggest challenge was keeping up and learning at the same time as doing.  With each wedding I was learning so much and then coming home and editing and again learning.. we then were having to set up and run a business so before we could do something (send paperwork for example) we had to create it.. before we could design an album we had to learn how to use the software.. find an album supplier etc etc.  There were a lot of very late nights and just an awful lot to digest.  Everything was new and I would say that that first 18 months was the most valuable as we learnt a lot on how not to do things.  That's the great thing.. you really learn from every decision you make (and every mistake you make) and actually I think we now have a much better business for it.

Best camera to use for a newbie starting out?

I expect there are quite a few cameras that are great for when you are just starting out but I started with a Nikon D40.. then moved up to a Nikon D90 which I used for my first 6 months of shooting weddings.  I then moved over to Canon (I was Second Shooting for a photographer who used Canon so could borrow lenses and he could teach me about the camera if I moved over) and started using a Canon 5D MKII.  In my first year to 18 months I'll be honest it was a struggle to build up the finances to buy equipment.. I had a couple of bodies and a few lenses but there was such a long list of things to buy.. and what to buy first?  A better camera body or a new lens? Which lens? How many memory cards do I need? I remember seeing a photo of a photographer's desk with a little pile of memory cards and thinking "Wow! They've got like 10 memory cards! That's a shit load of money right there!.. Will I ever get to that stage??"  But you get there.. don't get me wrong.. it's a slow process.. and we still (and always will have) things to buy on our list but you do it.  I think the biggest piece of advice I can give is however expensive.. definitely have back ups.  This is vital.  If your camera breaks or you drop it you need to have a back up with you that you are totally happy to shoot that wedding with.  Shit will happen and you have to be prepared.

What lenses do you generally use?
I'm a 35mm 1.4 and an 85mm 1.2 kinda girl..

When looking around at photographers for our wedding we noticed many photographers rip off others. Knowing you have been a victim of it in the past.. have you got any advice for those who get their creativity ripped off on the internet?
I think there's a difference between being inspired by people's work and then ripping them off.  I know that I definitely did not invent the cutting people's heads off.. I find myself naturally doing it when shooting but I know that other people did it before me.. BUT everything I do I will make it my own.  If, on the other hand someone was to create a website and it looked like a carbon copy of my website then that's different.  I think when it comes to photography, especially wedding photography.. things can quite easily look pretty similar as we're all constantly working with the same components.. but I think there's always room for making something your own.  I would say, it's it's blatantly obvious they have copied something then by all means, talk to them.. but also you must be doing something right if someone wants to copy you in the first place.. ;)

How do you manage your workload and what is your process from after you have backed up your images to delivery to the couple?
I'm constantly trying to streamline my workflow and over the past three years it has changed quite a bit.  I've had periods where it's been pretty overwhelming and in peak wedding season have been literally drowning.. these are the points where we've often had to do more work (by setting new things up) which help ease the workflow in the long run but at the time seem easier to not do and just struggle on.  But I'm telling you from experience.. JUST STOP AND DO IT.

So at the moment this is our workflow..
Shoot Wedding
Monday (if possible) I will cull the wedding.
Send to Fotofafa..

So.. Fotofafa.. if you haven't heard of them then you need to look them up.  I can hand on my heart tell you that they changed my world.  Fotofafa are a post-production company based in California and they gave me my life back. This is not me being over-dramatic either.  I send them my RAW files and they do my basic adjustments.. white balance, tweaks to exposure, colour etc.. I then get all my images back ready for me to add my own artistic edit.  The time it saves me is incredible and whilst the images are with Fotofafa I get to concentrate on other things, shoot more, do more personal work, workshops, even karaoke.. ;) 

For the first 2 years of the business I was constantly at my desk.. and shooting a wedding every week meant that to keep on top of things I was working constantly.. all day.. all night.. and it felt like it was becoming a chore.. I was dreading the start of a wedding edit as it seemed such a huge mountain to climb.. but now the weight is off my shoulders and the workload feels manageable.. it is also the BEST thing when the images come back and you get to watch the adjustments appear in LR.. it's actually like Christmas.. :)

Once the images are back I then spend a day artistically editing the images.. converting any to black and white that I want, dodging and burning etc.  The following day is then spent creating a slideshow, uploading their client gallery and creating their package ready to send.. :)

Obviously sometimes weddings don't get culled on the Monday straight after the wedding and sometimes they come back from Fotofafa and I might have shoots or a weddings so again they might have to wait a few days but I give my couples a timescale of 4 weeks (5 in peak season) so I give myself a decent amount of time to do the job and to enjoy it too... :)

Along the way I've definitely learnt that one of the most important things for our business is to make sure our workflow works.. and is as efficient as it could be.  As it's improved the business and our work/life balance has improved.. and for me that is vital for us to be able to look after ourselves and our couples better..

I also have to mention how great Fotofafa's customer service is.. they have always been ridiculously helpful and have really become another member of our business.. there is always the time difference that you have to take in to account (them being in America).. but they have answered all my questions (however stupid) and are always on the other end of an email.. I'm totally smitten.

I've added some examples below of my original RAW image next to the (basic) adjusted image that I get back from Fotofafa.. good hey?!? :)

What techniques do you use to get clients to laugh and relax during your shoots?

I want them to be comfortable first and foremost.. and most, if not all my couples are not comfortable having their photo taken (I don't really know many people that are).. so for me.. my job is to make them feel safe and to know what to expect as most of their nerves are to do with not knowing what is expected of them.  You need to lead it.. if you are confident then they will have confidence in you, they will trust you and then they will relax.  I've found knowing comfortable and easy ways for couples to get close helps.. (as in comfortable ways to hold each other) and then giving them little exercises or chatting about how they met etc can all help for them to forget about the camera.  I would definitely recommend having a few different poses/exercises/games/conversations ready but at the same time relax and let go yourself.. the more you worry, the more stiff you'll be and they will feel that tension which will then make them more tense.. I want to not be worrying about what settings or what the hell am I going do to next etc and just be able to enjoy getting to know them and giving them the space to have a bit of fun together..

What would you say to other photographers who are just starting out who are searching for their own voice - and feel bombarded by all the visual imagery there is out there online?

I always get very passionate about this question.  I think it's very easy to sit for hours looking at other photographer's work and then try and emulate it yourself.. because you like what you see them doing.. they're successful etc.. but they are not you.  Every one of us is an individual.. we all like different things and are drawn to different things and when it comes to art I actually think you have your own natural style buried in there somewhere just waiting to be let out.  Yes, you can *learn* to shoot a certain way but is it you?  For me.. I always think a good starting place is to look backwards.. what has made you who you are.. photography is such a personal thing that all your experiences, all your traits, your family, your relationships, your personal style, your likes.. everything is knitted together to form your voice.. so I would probably say.. instead of looking at those blogs and constantly looking outwards.. maybe start looking inwards.. go out and shoot... shoot for yourself.. and rediscover who you are first..

There are quite a few more questions that I'll answer in a future post.. but for now.. I hope these are helpful!

We also have a few spaces left for our Birmingham and Dublin Welcome home Workshops in March.. so if you have got lots of questions and want to know more then I really encourage you to come along.. it's such a good day and I promise you'll get super shit loads out of it.. :)

..to have and to hold..

lick of paint..

Yey! The website has had a little facelift for the new year!! We now have some new galleries to feast your eyes on and a few little tweaks to the home page too! It's always nice to give things a lick of paint and to swop things round a bit.  I love it.. and I'm currently going back every now and again to take another little peek myself.. :)

The Role of Art in Music

Art is one of the most talked about subjects. Of course, it is the most integral part of music. But to understand art in music one must first understand art.

What is art exactly? Many have attempted to define it. However, it is not limited to one embracive definition. To a lot of people, any sort of craft is considered art, perhaps because the word itself derives from an older one that meant "arm" or "to make". But it is much more sophisticated than just that. Others associate art with beauty that is pleasant in appearance or sound. But again, there's more to it.

When it comes to fine art (i.e., performing, visual), it is more transcendental in origin and effect. Although fine art is offered in higher educational institutions, the truth of the matter is that it is inherent in the individual to begin with. And universities even require one to audition or to have a portfolio in order to be admitted. The point here is that it is not just mechanics or technique; it is the artist's expression that creates an effect upon the viewer or listener.

Art is a human creation that attempts to create an emotional impact. It does not have to be "pleasant" either. The movies of director Alfred Hitchcock are dark and sometimes gruesome. Certain composers like Tchaikovsky have written quite somber pieces. But they are all aesthetic and tend to create a significant impact upon people. They trigger emotional response in a mighty way.

As to craft, which includes technique and other technical aspects, this is simply the vessel that makes expression possible. The one who is doing the expressing is the artist, who is the life force, the being. The vision is spiritual. We are not talking about religion here, but simply the fact that the life force, the human essence, is who the musician is.

Some musicians feel that that their emotions have to come from their mind. They actually originate deeper, from within, from them, the life force. And a musician must know this, or else his expression will be too dry. He should not be using reason or logic to express himself; he (the spiritual force) should be expressing directly. A good analogy is a lifeless corpse laying in an open casket during a funeral. It may be all dolled up, neat and painted with rosy cheeks to give it life, and the superficial appearance is one of a resting or sleeping person. However, despite its outward appearance, it is still lifeless. The main essence is gone. And one can actually perceive that. The same principle applies to a lifeless performance. There is no real expression. It can be somewhat emotional, but if done on a strictly mental level, is not fine art. Incidentally, this applies to both major aspects of music, composing and performing.

A musician of any kind or at any level can always become better. The driving force, which underlies any and all technical aspects, no matter how simple or complex, is the musician himself. He should understand that he is a powerful being, and natively so.

How To Create A Great Photograph

In a previous article I wrote about how anyone can take a great picture, with the main difference between an amateur and a professional photographer being the consistency and the regularity of getting that great snap. As a professional if you miss the opportunity that's in front of you, there is often no second chance. As an amateur it's just a minor disappointment.

As a pro or a budding amateur photographer there are principles of composition that can help and complement the natural eye that you have for a great image, whether it's a portrait or a landscape.

When you think you see a great image:

1. One aspect that is important is the position of the camera. The point of view whether high, low or somewhere in between, is very important in creating the best possible perspective for the shot. A shot of a building or a person from close to the ground can present the subject almost as three dimensional in the finished photograph. This can really bring to life a photograph that may not have much detail in it.

2. Another aspect of getting a great shot is the essential trio of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. All three are incredibly important in having a fully developed presentable photograph, but the aperture is the one that can really enhance the scene in front of you. A large aperture will enhance the foreground of the image making it centre stage and blurring out the background, while a small aperture will give life to the whole picture. With a large aperture the simplest photograph of something like a flower head can translate to a wonderful and powerful canvas.

3. The third main aspect of a great photograph for me is balance. Angles, straight lines and natural frames can help an image not to be overpowered by one single element. The glimpse of the side of a building, an archway or a horizontal horizon can frame the subject that is the priority of the picture and give it substance that it may otherwise not have.

These factors combine to fully develop the great picture that you think you see in front of you, but the most important factor is recognising the opportunity for the great snap that has presented itself. When you see the opportunity it is very important to take stock of all the elements and possible variations that are in front of you to produce the best possible result.

At times you can pause and relax and shoot at your own pace to create that great photograph, other times you have to be sharp and alert to weigh up the factors in an instance and catch that moment, as that second chance is often not a possibility.

Photo Session Guide for Bradford-On-Avon (Wiltshire, UK)

If you are thinking of having your professional photographer take you and your family on a fun photowalk, why not consider Bradford-on-Avon? Bradford-on-Avon is a really pleasant, homey and picturesque town, full of tranquillity and romance. Its history goes back 2500 years, with each century leaving its marks on the city's soul and architecture. Fine examples from the Saxon, Medieval, Tudor, Georgian and Industrial Revolution periods are all present and preserved on the streets and squares of this relatively small corner of Western Wiltshire.

If you choose to visit Bradford-on-Avon for a photowalk or location shoot, you will undoubtedly enjoy the day immensely, as just walking the streets and riversides in Bradford-on-Avon is always a discovery, with historic adventure and the warm pleasure of a small town. At the same time, this small spot also has all the features required for a good family photowalk. As well as historical buildings that provide a stylish setting for the pictures, there is a riverside and green areas providing a natural, neutral background. Children will find all kinds of fun on the playground, while the adults of the group enjoy the beautiful hill scenery.

A 2-3 hour photowalk is easily planned in Bradford-on-Avon, while guaranteeing plenty of pictures in many different styles and background and still ensuring that the entire party is entertained and has a pleasant day out.

Start at the heart of Bradford-on-Avon, where the ancient Bridge at the centre of town faces the river Avon. There is the option to go down to the river and get some lovely shots directly on the water. Next to the bridge there are some architectural gems, including a Victorian Tea Room dated to 1675 and a historical pub, both looking the very picture of most people's fairy tale vision of old England.

Next, head towards Wine street terrace on the hill side, which will take you past both The Holy Trinity Church and The Saxon Church of Saint Lawrence. The route is filled with charmingly narrow and winding streets, historic buildings, brick walls and flowers that all together form the ideal setting for a relaxed city shoot. After taking full advantage of the aged beauty of those old churches, your photowalk can begin meandering up the hill.

Of course, if walking many stairs up a hill is not your general idea of fun and relaxation, the entire hill walk can be skipped. However, if you do make it up that hill, you will be well rewarded with a stunning view of the city and some truly splendid pictures to be proud of. There is also a playground ahead, as an enticement to children, so that they have the motivation to keep walking! Most children can manage this route very happily and head back down the hill still full of energy for the playground ahead.

Once you have climbed or skipped the hill, you and your family photographer can walk through Barton Orchard, then cross the Rail Bridge to arrive on the Avon river-side. This part of town is beautifully park-like and the first thing your children will see is that long-anticipated play-ground! There is no more suitable subject to capture for a family photobook than children enjoying themselves at play. No matter the weather, this always produces pictures of colourful, sunshiny happiness and joy.

After all that walking and playing, the kids (and maybe the grown-ups,too!) will likely be exhausted, so you can simply exit to a car park at this point, or linger a while longer in the pleasant surroundings and take advantage of the pub nearby. Of course, if the family is up for it, you could always continue walking along the riverside, enjoying the unique and peaceful atmosphere of this town. That will conveniently lead you back to where you started by the Town Bridge, where you could partake of the local coffeehouses and restaurants, which are surprisingly plentiful for such a compact town! Bradford-on-Avon is definitely a pleasant day out with the family, and is easy to take advantage of with your favourite family photographer in tow, capturing those memories of everyday life that will mean so much as your family grows.

Why Wedding Photography Is So Expensive

When you look through Wedding Photography websites checking out prices, sometimes it can seem like photographers have it easy. They earn a thousand or more for a single day of work! Of course, this is far from the case. In reality a photographer will spend many hours working before, during and after the big day itself.

Before any shooting begins, your wedding photographer will sit down with you at a consultation and have a long discussion about what you want from your wedding pictures. He will discuss the overall feel with you, venue ideas and issues, and those special shots he absolutely MUST get on the day. Once these things have been decided, a good wedding photographer will visit the venue in advance whenever possible, to look at all the options for locations, lighting, and whether there is somewhere to shoot in case of rain. This visit will help him decide which equipment to bring and to make a plan for your wedding day.

On the wedding day itself, most likely your wedding photographer will be with you every step of the way - from the bride getting ready, rushing to the venue to take some shots of the groom and his best man waiting, then heading to get a few photos of the bride arriving. He will be focussed on you for the entire service, and then for the intensive photo shoot after the ceremony. He will likely carry on into the night, photographing those important memories that happen during the reception. Like your first dance, the wedding speeches, the cake, as well as you and your guests in candid moments. And he will do all of this while carrying 3 or 4 kilos in camera, lenses and equipment. Your photographer will be as exhausted at the end of your wedding day as you will be!

Of course, the next day is when the bulk of the work truly begins. Your wedding photographer will have in the area of 1000-2000 files to sort through, grade, and edit. This post-production process can take a week or more of long days and many hours of intensive labour. Just going through all those photos alone, to decide which shots are the very best and worthy of being processed into your treasured wedding memories, can take three or four hours, during which about 30% of the photos that are not technically perfect are weeded out. Those left are rated for quality and pleasing subject matter, and the files are further reduced until 200-300 photos of the best quality are left.

At this stage, a photographer's "other" great talent comes into play. Because it is not enough to have an artisitic eye and be able to take a great shot, though that certainly is part of it. A talented wedding photographer will be able to edit your photos to perfection, creating the perfect mood for your special photos. Images are cropped, altered to remove distractions, colours are tweaked for best effect, as well as many other small details. This precision work, spread over 300 photos, means many hours of hard work for your wedding photographer, who is always conscious that you want to see your wedding pictures as soon as possible.

Suddenly that thousand or more your wedding photographer is earning is spread over two weeks of hard work. There is no putting a price tag on true talent, and finding a wedding photographer that you trust to capture your most special day, but it does help to know where the money is going and that your wedding photographer is talented, well-trained, and above all, an artist.