Wait for it... Wait for it...

There's a saying in photography that goes something like:

"A great picture is 50% technique and 98% being there"...

[-pause-]

Okay, maybe I made that up.  But it sounds good right?  ...And there is some truth to it really.

The idea is actually pretty simple - waiting for the picture.  See life is made up of all these little moments - and the trick is waiting for that "right" moment to capture some of them.

I have three different images I took this year that I hope will illustrate my point.

Picture One:  Amanda & Gary

This is a shot of Amanda & Gary.  I had been using them as practice for my skills (or lack there of?).  I had them sitting on things, standing, walking, okay now smile, now look serious, yada, yada, yada... for quite some time.  We found this nice little nook that had incredible stone work.  It was simple - I didn't have them looking at me - heck, I told them to ignore me and just talk and joke with each other... Bulls eye!  

I love the picture, Gary is saying something that is funny and Amanda is on that edge of laughing.  I couldn't have planned this shot at all... I was at the right place, the right time.  Waiting... 

Picture Two:  Megz

Meagan is just fun to shoot.  I have to admit the majority of the pictures of her are completely random, and typically aren't the "posed" or "planned" shots.  

Why?  

Well... for one, the girl is dangerously impatient (love you Meagan)... so while I am trying to plan my next shot she is running around asking me "Whatta-I-do, whatta-I-do???". 

Guess what - that's when it happens.  She pauses for that brief second and does something like the picture above.  I call it "pure emotion".  It's her... being her.  

Sometimes you want the processed and posed shot, but I'll take an off-the-cuff shot any day!  What's the trick?  Waiting... she'll do the rest, I just need to point and shoot.

Picture Three:  Caden

Anyone with kids can tell you that they don't sit still... They don't pose well (patience, virtue... yeah right)... and they can be a total riot to be around (Still don't want any of my own... but... that's another BLOG)....

This shot of Caden is another example of just being ready to aim and fire.  I couldn't have him pose for this (I couldn't get people my age to pose this well, so a two-ish-year-old... yeah, forget that plan).  

Again, the idea is simple... Waiting.  Sure you could argue that the highlights are blown out and I am sure his dad is not real keen on having part of his leg and "daddy parts" in the shot... but you can't recreate this one!  And darn it all, I love the shot!

It's so easy to sit here and write it down and say... "Oh sure, just wait for something cool to happen and snap a quick shot".  The part I guess I am not telling you (no one ever seems too either... hmmmm) -- Yeah, I have about half-a-hard-drive full of pictures that didn't make the cut.  They have someone's eyes closed, or someone's mouth in a very awkward pose, or someone looking off into oblivion. 

Simple right?  Just wait for it... 

- jermz

www.jermzphotography.zenfolio.com

The Wedding Trick

Congratulations... You just got your new shiny expensive camera made by __________.

That thing sure is nice... and complicated.  But it's a Christmas gift you really wanted...  I'm sure it can't be that hard to take nice pictures with it.  Boy, look at all those buttons and dials on it.  Let's see... the owners manual - oh my, it's 400 pages long... yeah... well... There's an AUTO setting - we'll leave it there... 

- Ok -

So all joking aside.  With the Christmas season here I am sure there are more than one or two people who will be getting new digital cameras under that pine tree!  And good for you!  It's a great hobby and a great way to capture moments in time!

Chances are though - if you are one of the unlucky few to get one of those fancy cameras - DSLR (whatever that means right?).  You know, the one with the big lens on it!  You're going to be suckered into something...

Yeah... Now we're talking!

So after a few parties with family and friends you'll be busting that thing out!  Snapping away... Uncle Melvin drinking a beer - snap, got it!  Your buddy Jim dancing the Chicken Dance - snap, got it!  Oh look, a flower alone in a vase on the table, black and white - snap, got it!

But there's a nasty problem looming in the negative space of digital photography... that empty black void that sucks pixels to their timeless death... WEDDINGS!

See - someone will get this bright idea that you have a "nice new expensive" camera.  And because you have found this new art form and expression you will be PERFECT for their sisters / kids / neighbors / etc... wedding.

So what do you charge to do a wedding?  Oh yeah... that's right, you're an amateur - you just happened to be better at managing your credit card than most Americans, hence the nice camera!

Is $100 enough?  Is $500 too much?  $1000?  $10,000??  You'll probably just do it for free - hey, you like taking pictures right?

Run from this idea!  Let me say that again in all caps so it'll soak in... RUN!!!!  (even italicized for effect).  

See here's the thing, you'll be in charge of a lot more than you bargained for.  Do you really want to be responsible for someone's wedding?  Think about it for a second.  Does anyone remember their wedding cake?  Does anyone remember the dinner?  Does anyone remember what style the tuxedo was???  

- No -

They remember the pictures - why?  Because they last (typically).  I guarantee anyone who is happily married has wedding pictures in their house - usually on display!  Do you want that pressure?  I sure don't!

Oh, so you've got one camera with the kit lens (a nice little 18mm - 135mm zoom that stops down to f3.5 at 18mm)... Good luck!  What, you only shoot natural light?  Hope the weddings outside during the "right" hours.  Did you just drop your camera during the beginning of the ceremony?  I'm sure the bride / groom didn't want the rest of the wedding recorded.  They'll be understanding too I'm sure ;-)

A lengthy post - but the point I am trying to make - leave the "professional" work to... here it comes... the professionals.  When I need surgery a few years ago - guess who I had do it???  A surgeon.  Wow... crazy huh?  I could have saved a few bucks having one of my buddies do it - sure - but I also didn't want to end up with a wrist watch somewhere in my abdomen.  

Just sayin'... 

- jermz

www.jermzphotography.zenfolio.com

Don't be upset, like this guy, with bad wedding pictures - avoid them!

Customer Satisfaction

So let's get this train rollin'... 

What is a good picture?  What makes a great picture?  There are books, websites, magazines, YouTube videos, DVD's, and anyone with at least one working eye that have an opinion on what a "great" picture.  Who's right?

Let me first start off by suggesting that there are steps, procedures, and rules to making more pleasing pictures!  There are certain poses that work well for the male or female form, or certain lighting that helps capture a person, or even certain camera lenses that are used for more appealing pictures.

But there is something that you can't buy... something you judge right away... 

Customer Satisfaction... 

Here's the example I recently shot for some dear friends of their son for Christmas cards.

I love this picture personally.  The look on his face is priceless!  What is he looking at?  Why is he making that expression?  Has he been naughty or nice?  Did he find out the truth about Santa?

Now from a "technical perspective" the lighting is actually "off".  The whites in his shirt and socks are "blown out".  From a technical standpoint I would need to adjust perhaps the exposure in the camera or even the lighting itself... 

... but

Would I be able to capture his expression again?????

The answer is - probably not.  If you've ever been around a ~2 year old... well... let's just say that this will not be repeated in my lifetime (or his!).

So where does this leave me?  The clients love the picture.  Do they care that the "detail" in his shirt is blown out?  Or that his socks are as white as an Albino convention in Alaska?  No... 

They are satisfied with the expression and emotion the picture brings!  

And there you have it... as a photographer you should strive to make "good" pictures.  You should care about the lighting, the scene, the exposure, the shutter speed, ISO, your depth of field, etc, etc, etc... but at the end of the day - make sure your customer is satisfied!

- jermz
http://jermzphotography.zenfolio.com/

The Introduction...

Welcome to Jermz Photography's "official blog".

So what's the point? Why yet another blog in this world of drive-thru coffee shops, Twitters tweeting, Facebook-crazies, etc… etc…??

- Simple -

I have something to say, and hope I have one or two who will listen. I want to address things I see and have learned in the amatuer world of photography. I want to share links to great sites, deals, etc. Help others expand just as I am expanding and growing!

I want to open a positive door on some of my other hobbies and interests too… music (guitar!)… classic cars…

Pretty simple, right?

So let's take a journey!