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All responses Most smiled responses
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After 450-550 weddings, I have plenty of stories! Technically, I have been very fortunate. I have had a shutter literally blow out in cameras, I have trashed numerous flashes and a few other incidents with gear. With appropriate back-up, can easily go through a day without missing a beat.
I have had some difficult cards. Knock on wood, I have never had a card I couldn't recover. Hard-drives are a different story!!! It is not a matter of if they will fail but when. Back-up, back-up, back-up. 3 different devices, 2 different mediums, 1 off site! -
Thank you! This made my day!
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Depending on the location, between $350-$600 for the shoot. Finished art is a la carte. Many wedding coverages include the session, as well!
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Nisswa, Minnesota - the friendliest small town in the Country.
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Depends what you are looking for :)
I am always happy to talk about photography and what I can offer to any couple wanting killer images! -
I just wrapped up an intimate four day workshop a couple weeks ago. I don't have any immediate plans for another workshop; however, I do look forward to hosting many more in the future. Please feel free to email me for information about upcoming events!
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Let's talk! I would be happy to share my children portfolio with you.
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I try to accommodate any requested image a couple has! I have absolutely no problems photographing a few formal images or any ideas a couple has in mind. That said, anyone that has photographed weddings for anytime has been presented with some crazy situations (along with multipage shot lists and unrealistic time lines planned to the second.) My experience is most the time these requests happen with the best intentions and very open communication is the solution.
Photography is a collaborative effort. Communication is really the key for any situation that may be a little awkward. Often times couples request a shot because their siblings had it or a friend did. Getting to the core of the emotion that they want to portray is the answer.
I will give a real life example. There used to be a shot a lot of photographers did where couples magically peaked around a fair sized tree at each other. Whoever dreamed up this pose should be shot. The bride's sister had this image done with the whole wedding party captured in this not so spontaneous act. This was one of the sister's favorite images from her wedding and thought the it was fun and different. She had her sister, the bride, convinced we had to take this image. There was a beautiful stand of trees on the wedding property. I had all types of different visions for the backdrop. I told the bride I would be happy to take your image, but I had additional visions for the area. Needless to say once I presented my vision, we didn't photograph the peaking around the tree shot :)
There is a website - http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ Some of my closest moments have come from brides insisting on images with young, napless flower girls or ringbearers that wanted nothing to do with photos. The bride is trying to tackle the flowergirl. She is trying to run away. There is kicking, screaming, pulling, tears .... You get the situation. My solution is always to wait for later opportunities. I make a conscious effort to watch for moments of here being her throughout the day.
That is second to crazy aunts gathering groups of people together at the reception after guests have had a few cocktails to unwind for a nice family image. She wants uncle Bob to remove the tie from his head and cousin Andy cannot find his jacket and her daughter is three shades of red from dancing the last ten songs on the dance floor. All this is happening while her sister has lost her husband and so and so may have gone home.
In the relative scheme of things, these situations are so small. I do the best I can do with each situation and move on. -
I do get a little anxious before each shoot! It is not a sick to my stomach type anxiety. I honestly think it is a good thing. I am confident I can create killer images if I am given the opportunity by the time and opportunity to do so. Often on a wedding day the time or opportunity to create doesn't come equally.
Anyone that has photographed a wedding knows, expect the unexpected. I am going through multiple scenarios of time lines and situations before each shoot. I truly want each couple to LOVE their images and want to share them with generations to come. Mix these two factors together, and I do get amped before each celebration. -
Ummm..... Maybe if you are into the nerdy/art type :)
Kate, this better be you. I don't have time for a new stalker! -
Absolutely!
Any shoot where I can choose or control my light like a portrait or editorial shoot, I always shoot in manual. Good exposure plus great light always produces beautiful color. With all my exposures and processing my goal is to have as much tonal range recorded as possible. My cameras histogram is invaluable to do so. Most of my apertures when photographing individuals are around f4, and I let my shutter speeds fall where they want as long as they are fast enough to create a sharp image.
This shoot was all done on my Canon 5dmk2. All of the images were taken with my 70-200 f2.8 and the wider images with my 35mm f1.4. That said, any newer DSLR with quality glass would have worked perfect for Chelsie's shoot.
I am primarily a RAW shooter and fairly straight processor. I will retouch in Photoshop with a light hand. I like my retouching to look natural. I do apply a number of local contrast adjustments with curves (dodging and burning) to tighten up the focus and boost the color of many images.
Hope this helps! -
Thank you! I am blushing behind my computer screen right now...
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I know exactly the image you are referring to. That was an awesome wedding with an incredible couple! Their reception was at Grand View Lodge's Sherwood Forest property. It is definitely a more intimate location with tons of charm.
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That is a great question! Unfortunately, it is one that formspring doesn't allow enough room to fully reply. I could quite literally write a book on this topic, and I know many that have.
Over the years I have learned there is no one approach to marketing. Depending on one's style, ideal couple, business model, etc., there could easily be a variety of approaches that work for one photographer and not another. As time goes on, you will find your marketing efforts will evolve as your business does, too.
What I have found most successful photographers do is to take a holistic approach to their marketing. They realize every aspect they are in contact with clients or potential clients they are marketing. They identify how they are unique and who their ideal client is. That message is delivered consistently across every facet of their business.
While the above concept is relatively straight forward, it is not easy. Marketing requires continual diligence and effort. It requires work! Go out and tell everyone you can about your photography. Find couples that enjoy what you do as much as you do creating it!
TIP: Often your ideal client is not one of your friends! Figure out how to get in front of those who are. -
The vast majority of my wedding work is completely natural light when shooting outdoors. I truly want to maximize the time I have with each couple to create as many interesting images as I can and tend to work in areas that have great light to start with. If the light isn't cooperating, I always have a reflector and portable light kit with me, but it usually lives in the trunk of my car ;(
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Excellent question! I am not super brand loyal in general. That said, I am super picky with my Cheetos (Chester is my role model), Oreos (long live Nabisco) , and Corn Flakes (Kellogs please)!
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I have used a number of hosting companies over the years. If I were to start fresh, I would use http://www.hostgator.com for all my sites.
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With mid-afternoon sun you have to be extremely conscious of what you are doing. It isn't my first choice for lighting. Like most photographers, I would rather work during the fringe hours of the day or transitional lighting during afternoon light.
There are times when one has to shoot in full sun (like during summer ceremonies outside) or to create a certain look no other light will do. First, I would say be very aware of your camera angles. Even in full sun, there are pockets of excellent light. As one moves around one's subject, there are certain angles that will definitely be more flattering. Find those angels and wait for (or help direct) the moment to happen.
My second tip would be to make sure your exposure is as close to right on as possible. When dealing with high contrast situations there is not much room for error. Give yourself as much image detail in your highlights and shadows to work with in post will allow a lot of flexibility and time savings in post. -
Absolutely! I definitely don't shoot this style for every wedding, but I definitely can and will. I personally believe as a professional it is all about delivering images that a couple will love and reflects their personality. That said, if very traditional images in a church are the only images a couple wants to hire me for, we may not be the best match :)
I have used a number of lighting kits over the years. Right now the one I am using for church formals are two battery powered strobes bounced into two separate large umbrellas that are triggered by pocket wizards. You don't need a ton of power for this setup. A pair of Canon, Nikon or Vivitar shoe mount strobes works perfect at around 1/8 to 1/4 power. I meter my light output around f/5.6 and drag my shutter to allow enough ambient light so the background fills in to where I want it.
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Biff Ulm’s Bio
husband . father . cheeto loving photographer
