So the other day Google made pages for businesses. What does that mean? It means that today instead of editing photographs, I was finally able to get a google+ account and business page. So I have since not been very productive, but have been playing with G+ for the past hour or so. I guess this is a good thing for them, but a bad thing for my productivity.

What are your thoughts on Google+?

While you are at it, add our circle (is that how you say it?) and might as well like our Facebook page as well.

www.facebook.com/adreamwithin

Hey everyone! I am soooo soooo sorry for the lack of posts recently. I have been extremely busy trying to catch up with my editing, attending conferences, shooting weddings, and attending workshops.

Speaking of workshops, I just recently attended Jeremy Cowart‘s latest workshop in Atlanta.  I love his work, and he is probably one of my favorite contemporary photographers. The workshop was great, I learned a ton, met some other great photographers, and have already started to implement some of the suggestions that he gave me for this business.

One of those changes is a complete overhaul and rebranding of my business. I have been thinking about this for some time now, and after Jeremy said it, it was the confirmation that I needed. I am already talking to my GREAT friend and graphic designer Megan about my rebranding. She was excited and relieved that I finally decided to do this because in her own words “you desperately need this”.

Anyway, I am excited that in the coming weeks I will be revealing a new look. Stay posted.

In today’s culture where DSLRs are readily available at a reasonable price, it is not uncommon for guests at weddings to have just as good and occasionally an even better camera than myself. Do I let this bother me? Absolutely not. Here are some reasons why:

1. Most people using a DSLR don’t really know how to use it, they are essentially using it as a point n shoot.

2. I have confidence in my ability to get better shots of the same subject than another person.

3. I know how to set my subjects up to get the best possible photograph

4. I am confident in my post processing techniques

With the technology gap becoming less and less in the photographic world, with your average joe having the same equipment and software as the professionals, it is becoming more and more important for professionals to separate themselves with the quality of their work.

What are your thoughts?

Being a photographer for non-professional models and brides can be really difficult a lot of times, mainly because you are essentially trying to get professional looking work out of subjects that aren’t professional models. But occasionally you will get that couple or subject that isn’t a professional, but just knows how to work it in front of the camera. That was the case this past Sunday as I photographed a friend of mine to give her some professional looking pictures for her to use. Check them out below.

What are some tips that you use to help your subjects be more natural in front of the camera?

What is great about this job is getting to witness the happiness of couples getting married. It’s even better when it is family or friends which was the case this past weekend. My good friends Rebecca and Davis got married this past weekend and asked me to be their photog for the day. It has truly been great watching their relationship grow from friends to now husband and wife. You can tell that they are truly happy just by the smiles on their faces! Take a look below.

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Also check out their engagement photographs that I did for them as well.

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Two weekends ago I had the opportunity to travel up near Chattanooga to shoot the beautiful wedding of Holly and Luke. I was and still am honored that they chose to let me be a part of their wedding, especially since Luke is currently serving our country in the Marines. With the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 just behind us, I am eternally grateful for everyone who chooses to serve us and protect our freedom. Here are some sample pictures from their wedding.

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Would love to hear what you think of the pictures!

A while back, I had the opportunity to shoot Justin and Allyson’s military wedding. It was a beautiful wedding despite the weather not cooperating. It was an outdoor wedding and reception with no back up plan. Needless to say, it rained throughout the whole ceremony, but it did make for a beautiful, fairy-tale like wedding. Check out some of the pictures below.

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Luckily, I had $100 worth of umbrellas in the car to protect my gear, and to let the wedding party use. A great investment for any photographer!

What are some other emergency props/equipment do you use or recommend?

So it seems that I broke another one of my rules and have agreed to shoot my good friend’s wedding. In fact, they are both good friends, and I have known them since before they started dating over two years ago. Yesterday I shot their engagement photographs, and I think they came out great. Take a look below.

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A lot of time (and I have been guilty of this) photographers just wing shoots. They fall into a rut of the same poses and locations and don’t really break out and experiment. It is amazing what a new location and spending $50 on some props will do for a shoot. Sometimes you don’t have to spend a lot, maybe get some scrabble pieces, or balloons, or flowers and incorporate them into your session and I guarantee you will be happy with the results.

What are some props that you have seen or used in some of your photo shoots?

Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to shoot Angela and Maurice’s wedding. It was at beautiful Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta. I had never shot there, and didn’t quite know what to expect. After a scare with some rain, the wedding turned out beautiful. Angela and Maurice are one of those couples that you just love shooting because they are so much fun and relaxed. Check out some of the shots below and let me know what you think.

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Some time ago I had the opportunity to break one of my own rules and shoot a good friends wedding.  There are a lot of fun things about shooting a friends wedding. Especially a friend from a place where I no longer live because I got to see and catch up with a bunch of people that I haven’t seen or talked to in a long time. One of my old roommates and best friends even had a kid that I hadn’t met yet….good times. The wedding was laid back, gorgeous, and a ton of fun.  Take a look at some of the photographs below, or watch the slideshow below that.

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