The next type of photography we wanted to do was sports photography. Now, we don't have any 400mm lenses... yet...(wink) but the idea was to place ourselves in a position to capture emotion and the story of the day.
Here's some shots from the entire crew:
(This is my favorite shot from the game. We wound up losing by a blocked kick which was no fun, but at the same time, it yielded this great shot. The emotion on his face says it all) Nice shot Chris!
Hey everyone! Just to give you a glimpse at what we were up to this past weekend...
Chris, Brad, and I decided that it would be fun to organize a "photography weekend" where we could use almost all of the equipment we own across multiple types of shooting scenarios.
Here was our schedule:
Friday, September 5th
5:30PM Dinner and Preparation (Steve’s Apartment)
7:00PM Night Time / High Dynamic Range Photography (rained out)
9:30PM Editing Session
Saturday, September 6th
9:30AM Live Edit using Lightroom and Aperture
10:45AM Studio Lighting Portrait Session
12:00PM Lunch
1:00PM Sports Photography - AU vs. Ferris State
3:30PM Commercial Photography “My Ashland” Shoot
5:30PM Dinner
7:00PM Balancing Flash with Ambient Light
Sunday, September 7th
9:30AM Debrief and Preparation for Engagement Session
2:30PM Leave Ashland for Baypoint
4:30PM Shoot at Baypoint Marina
Since we got rained out on Friday night, we stayed in and went over various editing techniques. However, the next morning allowed us to do some cool studio lighting. Check it out:
(Traditional 3-point lighting)
(Don't ask...)
(Traditional 3-point lighting)
(2 Light "Jack Reznicki" Style. 1 Key Light directly to the side, tilted backdrop, and one hair light)
(Over-under Commerical Lighting. One light overhead, one light under)
(At least I'm well read...)
(Over/under Glamour type lighting)
The great thing about going to a family member's wedding / reception is that you can enjoy yourself without having to feel like you're under the gun.
I was able to take a few shots while walking around. Note: I was trying my best not to be "that guy" at the reception. You know...the guy who shows up with the HUGE camera and trys to one-up the professional? (We've all been there)
So, I pretty much only shot family photos and some table set ups.
One thing about my family... they know how to throw a party. ;)
(Steven, Joellen, Aunt Linda and Uncle Ken)
(Mom and Dad)
(Uncle Jack and Mom)
(Gorgeous)
("Let them eat cake.")
(Uber-gorgeous)
(Tradition)
(Amanda and Mark) ~ aw cute!
(You've got to order the "Romano" to get this cocktail!)
(Downtown San Diego / Marina from the Balcony, in the distance is the Coronado Bay Bridge)
Congrats to Amanda and Mark on their marriage! Love you guys!
-Steve
Hey everyone. I'm out here in San Diego, California for a wedding I don't have to shoot! Relaxation? What's that? (wink) It's always great to spend some time with family and get away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. However, I wouldn't be a good photographer if I didn't at least do some shooting out here. So, here's a few shots that I took when out with the family.
(Flowers in the Aunt's Garden - I miss Chris' macro)
(Flowers in the Aunt's Garden) ~love the burnt color
(Seaport Village vicious parrot attack) (j/k)
(Not so vicious parrot)
(These flowers are actually made out of wood)
(Only the best for the padre)
(USS San Diego Memorial)
(USS San Diego Memorial)
(Statue in front of the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier)
(Bob Hope Memorial) ~ love this shot
I typically like to shoot the early evening downtown cityscape type of shots, but sometimes you have to work in mid-day sun with the family. The trick to good photography is to find the beauty in everyday things. It may not be interesting to everyone, but if it's interesting to you...take the shot. I think that many photographers (myself included) sometimes get into the mindset that you need perfect lighting, or you have to wait for the "magic hour". The challenge is to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. Ask Jay Maisel! Check out his web site:
Click here to see some of his work: Nikon Master Series
"Always carry a camera", is the motto that Jay has been preaching for years. Good advice. The only way to become a better photographer is to shoot, shoot, and shoot some more! (even then, you haven't learned everything)
-Steve
We had the opportunity to work with this fantastic couple a few weekends ago, and we were really pleased with what we were able to produce. This wedding took place in Ashland, Ohio, and so it was nice to not have to drive so far, kinda like home-field advantage.
The photography shot in the rose garden on location really demonstrates what can happen when you take the time to control your quality of light.
I've had a few questions recently regarding mileage, and I thought it would be a good idea to address this issue on the blog. Many photographers struggle with the idea of charging for mileage, and while it is a business decision you have to make, there are obvious positives and negative to this.
Currently, we are listed as being Ashland Photographers, Columbus Photographers, even Ann Arbor photographers, due to our locations for shooters. However, how do we decide when to charge for mileage and when not to? For us, it all comes down to a base of operations. If we can drive from Ashland, Columbus, or Ann Arbor to a location within 50 miles of one of those cities, then we can usually save on hotel costs since we can get back to "base" relatively quickly. We like to pass those savings onto our clients.
Many photographers will also make the decision to always charge for mileage regardless of distance, simply because the cost of fuel has gone up so high. This of course is the question that you have to ask yourself. Do you eat the cost, or don't you? Kaufman Kramer has always strived to provide top level service to all of our clients, and if we can help them by taking up some of these internal costs, then we're going to do that.
Of course, I say this while gas is around $4.00 a gallon. We'll see how we feel when it hits 6 bucks. (For all those brides out there, I wouldn't worry... We'll make sure to get to your location no matter what.) Just something on my mind that I thought other photographers would be curious about. ;)
And the exciting conclusion... (photos to follow in a couple days) ;)
You'll also see why we have photography insurance on our gear. :p
Hey everyone. The Kaufman Kramer guys were split up this past weekend on two very fun shoots. First, Chris and Brad were out in Wapakoneta, Ohio shooting Renae and Paul's wedding, which turned out to be pretty exciting considering the video you're about to watch.
Steve, Chris W. and Dave were out shooting Brooke and Russel's wedding in Wooster, Ohio. Brooke and Russel had a fantastic ceremony and both families were VERY fun to work with. It's easy to shoot great photos when everyone feels relaxed with their photographers. We also had a bit of downtime for the girls to send out some shout outs to the bride. All in all, a great day for our couples, and a great day for Kaufman Kramer.
We're all about new toys! Check out our latest:
Chris and I have to admit, we were a little skeptical when we woke up at 6:15AM to get in line for Midnight Madness tickets; after all, we'd never been before. However, we can honestly say that it was well worth the early wake up call. We got to see some outtakes from the Photoshop World opening movie, and played an fun round of 1 versus 200 / Family Feud based on Photoshop questions. Of course, we can't show you too much of Midnight Madness, because you have to get up early if you wanna go! Plus, I don't think Chris and I had enough energy that late at night to hold the camera steady. :p
We also got a chance to briefly talk about what we did during the day while walking back. The night of Midnight Madness actually fell on the day with the most classes, so we were pretty tired when all was said and done. Totally worth it. It was a blast.
Check it out: