Photographing the photographer

Now thats a challenge, no one is more critical than a photographer . I was up for the challenge and along with my friend and fellow photographer Simon Rich we braved a rather windy Southend on sea.
We opted for the beach area although I must admit the wind did course some problems with Joanna's hair .

I am pleased to say that Dean and Joanna love their pictures. They were a great couple to work with and Joanna was a natural in front of the camera .

USING FLASH ON A SUNNY DAY

The sun is out the sky is blue and you have your camera ready to take pictures, maybe you want to get some pictures of your children having fun on the beach.

What a wonderful bright sunny day for you to be out on. What a nightmare for your camera.

Lots of friends ask me why when the sun is shinning do their photos come out so bad why are my children all dark?

Simple answer is your camera does not see the child or object you’re taking it reads the light and there is nothing much brighter then sunlight.

To expose people correctly in your pictures you need to use a flashgun, yes a flashgun on a sunny day

The term used is FILL FLASH you set your camera exposure for the light reading it takes then place your flashgun at 2/3 of its power and take your picture. Wow no harsh shadows on your subject.

You can also purchase a small 3 in 1 reflector to add a warming tone to a person skin or to deflect light from a flower.

If your on the beach remember sand and water to reflect light making the work for your camera even harder, At all times keep your camera free of sand and avoid salt water.

You may be down the beach when the sunsets how ever tempted you are DO NOT point your camera directly at the sun not only can it harm your eyes it also harms your lens. Focus your pictures slightly away from the sun to prevent lens damage. The digital camera lens is just like and eye and too much direct light will damage the lens.

If you have been asked to take a friends wedding pictures on a sunny day. Be warned sunshine is great for the bride, but not great for taking photos if you lack understanding of how your camera reads light.

If you do not understand fully your camera and lens you will end up with images that have over highlighted and lost detail in the dress, harsh shadows on the skin, over highlighted skin tones on the foreheads of people, unfortunately even with the best Photoshop equipment burnt out highlights can not be bought back.


It’s a one off day that you can’t retake if you get it wrong. This is why people pay the extra money for a professional 

E-session

Oh what a day, I mean a bad day weather wise rain rain and more rain,
today i had an E-session which i normal do outside, Unfortunately the groom to be had pneumonia so had to be kept in the warm, and the lovely bride to be had recently had a stroke

This meant studio lighting a small room, The couple still wanted images done though they were not feeling 100%, I just did a small session with them.



This is where as a photographer I have to be prepared, On days like this when everything is against you and your clients

They still want me to do their wedding which is great as they are a lovely couple and i am looking so forward to this as i am sure it will be an amazing day and we will get some images to treasure

Checking out wedding venues

Its all ways so important to check out venues prior to a wedding,

I have photographed wedding here in the summer but the Autumn light makes the area look so different

Places where the sun streamed in during the summer months are now void of much light, so a few test shots tell me what i will need to take with me on the day

A good photographer knows how the tools  work, they dont fiddle around with settings they know by the light what settings to use.

its no good making mistakes on someone's special day it has to be right

I rely on myself and my camera to get it right not on photo-shop to correct mistakes

so test shots done  ISO settings indoors and out doors are as i expected them to be, meaning i can capture my couple  in a relaxed  way without having to worry about the light

Lifestyle portraits

A session yesterday in the beautiful village of Finchingfield in Essex, This was for an older client a group of people that seem to shy away from having their picture taken, I personally would encourage them to have a photo session done, It relaxing and fun and you get a nice cup of tea depending on your location choice

This session was done so mum ,wife and grown up family have some images to treasure

Heres a sneak preview of an image from the session

Lost Blog and busy

Sounds good really yes i lost my original blog, Get a new password i hear you say, i would do but have lost my long time email pass word, Yes my windows PC decided its life was over its little light went out and that was in,

repair cost did not warrant the expense and I had typically saved everything on the computer
what i have learn t windows is so unstable hence now i work on MAC, computers are not reliable so now have a little pass word book

I am now a convert to MAC its so much faster for my processing needs and does not crash or ask me to wait while windows does this or that, easy to move files just drag and drop simple.

Unfortunately now it means my daily blog has been lost hence the mighty three postings on this one

well whats new
I have my own make up and hair stylists fully qualified six years experience with cosmetic companies, working on make up for films and TV,

she also does bridal make up as well as extreme make overs

so a new service will be offered to clients for a make over portrait session and I will also be able to offer my brides to be a full make up and hair service as well as being their wedding photographer

In the new year i plan to offer wedding stationary as well which will save couples even more money giving them an all in one package price

I also think i will be the first photographer in Braintree to offer this service

so its a busy time of year with winter approaching and Autumn almost in full swing, making some lovely light and backdrops for outside portrait sessions