I’m so excited to say that my dad came home from the hospital last night!  Yes!  He really did!  After 45 days, he’s back home.  We still have a very long road ahead, but I couldn’t help but cry when I saw him finally resting in his own home.  So thankful.

Needless to say, there has been more unexpected events this summer than I can count.  Some of them I’ve shared, some of the news is still to come.    But can I just say I LOVE Wii!  In those first few weeks of my dad being in the hospital, life was turned upside down, and one day I came home and found Gina playing Wii with the kids.  It was to hilarious not to shoot!

Look at those faces!  HILARIOUS!  For those of you who love Wii and love Photo-Recipes, try this out over the weekend!  Send me what you get!  (You are waiting for those intense facial expressions!  )

Photo-Recipe:

There is a coffee table right in front of these guys, so I sat down on it and shot them straight on.  I wanted to be eye level with them, so that it when you looked at the image it felt like they were right in front of you.  I set my aperture to f/2.8.  My shutter speed was 1/60th of a second (or it may say 60 on your camera).  That is a slow shutter speed in some ways which can cause motion blur or camera shake, but since they were sitting in the same spot and not really moving anything but their arms—it works.  There is a lot of natural light in this room, so I was able to have my ISO down to 200.  I took a bunch of shots in a row so I could get as much diversity as possible in their facial expressions.  At first they were all a little self conscious of me shooting, but after a few minutes they forgot about me.  So hang in there for the shot.  It’s so worth it!

And a big thanks to Wii for helping my kids stay entertained on several afternoons when mom was at the hospital.  Plus, I have to thank my beautiful sister-in-law, Carmen, for convincing me to buy a Wii in the first place.  Love you Carm! 

Have a great weekend friends!

xoxo,

Me Ra

This is it!  Today is the LAST day to submit your photos for Book 2.  We’ve recieved a few hundred photo submissions!   But it’s not to late to send yours!  The deadline is tonight at midnight PST. Details here!

Unsure of whether or not to submit?  Just go for it!  Take that leap!

xoxo,

Me Ra

p.s.  Special shout out to Kelly from CA who submitted this photo as example of #6.  Don’t know what #6 is?  Click the details link above! (Kelly you rocked it with this photo!)

Two weeks ago, I posted a Photo-Recipe on how to deal with full sun.  All three of our SOAR! Recipients were assigned the task of trying this out, and they did an amazing job!  I encourage you to check out their posts on the SOAR! blog.  They rocked it!  In fact, I wanted to share Linda’s with you.  If you missed it, I know you will enjoy this!  (thanks Linda, and girl, GREAT job!)

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One of the goals I set in last week’s business coaching exercise was to improve my photography skills. The further I progress on this SOAR journey the more I realize the need to break this goal down into realistic and manageable actions to prevent me from becoming frustrated and overwhelmed by the very thing I profess to love. I think the past six months has taught me much about the skills and techniques I need to work on and practice to become the kind of photographer I aspire to be. Now is the time for me to truly acknowledge I can’t acquire these skills all at once. As Me Ra says in this week’s photo exercise – it’s time to slow down!

How to shoot in full sun is something I defiantly need to learn and practice. Here in Sacramento by around 8.30am I’m in trouble, so finding the conditions to do this exercise was not a problem. Finding a cooperative model on the other hand was and it’s finally time for me to wise up and say NO to practicing on my children. It’s just not fun for anyone and slowing down with those two monkeys in tow is certainly not an option. Even my shameless bribes and pleading don’t buy me much time. But this weekend my options were limited and I had to work with what I had.

So here is my little Racoon eyed Jack… around 10am facing into the sun.

Here he is turned around with his back to the sun and half a chocolate chip cookie in his tummy just to get him to do it! Much better, but to me it feels somewhat flat. I’m really starting to get a feel for the style of image I want to capture and I really want to see those catch lights in the eyes.

So we found some open shade on my neighbors front porch and tried again. There was a strip of direct sunlight on the concrete in front of him to reflect the light back into his face and light up his eyes a little.

This exercise was a great way for me to start observing and working with available light. Not so great on the moving people around but I’m going to try it again later in the week with a more cooperative model! Look forward to seeing what you learned from this exercise along with your images over on the SOARORITY forum.

Take care,
Linda

Two more days to submit your photos for Book 2 and have the chance to be published!  Send them today!

This summery photo is from Shelby in Oregon!  Thanks Shelby! It’s an Awesome shot with the band-aides and all!

Deadline is this Wednesday!  Details here!

xoxo,

Me Ra

Lindsay has no idea that I’m doing this, but when a little birdie told me it was Lindsay’s birthday, I couldn’t resist!  Happy Birthday sweet and sassy Lindsay!!! 

Lindsay is one of our three SOAR! Scholarship Recipients this year.  If you haven’t met her, you can CLICK HERE and learn a little about who she is, plus see the video she submitted to SOAR!

As you watch her video, you will soon find out how strong this woman is.  But if you really want to see the inner strength of Lindsay, CLICK HERE to read her weekly journey through this year’s SOAR! program.  She has faced so many challenges, inner fears, insecurities, and embraced the idea of risking it all to find the photographer and artist within her.  All three of our SOAR! gals, including myself, have faced unexpected challenges this year that was never in our “2010 plan”.  And yet, somehow we are all still going and becoming better and stronger women for it.  You can see exactly what I mean if you read any of Lindsay’s blog posts.  She is blooming as this incredible woman with clarity like never before.  Not to mention how awesome her photography is becoming!

Lindsay, I adore you.  I wish you the most wonderful birthday today.  May you feel celebrated all throughout the day.  You have no idea how much you’ve blessed my life this year.  I know that I’m not the only one who counts myself lucky, so crazy lucky, to have you in my life.

All our love,

Me Ra and Brian

She got bangs this week, inherited my old Blackberry and acts like she is 18 instead of 9.  Pascaline is also a texting maniac with her Grammie and great grandma (Gigi Ma).   This is a self portrait that she did of her new bangs. She texted it to the whole family. 

My favorite part was when she told me how she tried a couple different shots, but they were all to dark.  So she decided to face the window light to light up her face better.  Ooh!  I love that girl!  So smart!

And yes, that is a shop-vac in the background.  Don’t ask. 

xoxo,

m

Two announcements to make today!

One, we had an amazing panel of people help pick our Seattle/surrounding area mom.  Her family has been contacted, and I’m so excited to spend time with her this weekend!  We will share all those details soon!  Thank you so much to every woman that submitted.  I tell Brian all the time that I’m so glad I don’t have to make the decision because I never could.  All of your stories were so wonderful to read.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will get to meet each of you somehow sooner than later.

Second announcement!

The submissions to be a part of my second book with Random House are coming in strong!  They are DIVERSE, BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING…seriously, I’m on a inspirational roller coaster just seeing all your different expressions of creativity with the camera!

This classic face is from Nickie in Alaska!  Thank you Nickie!  I LOVE it!

You’ve got ONE week left from today to get your photos submitted! This is your chance to get your work published with me and Random House!  Don’t be afraid, just go for it!

What am I still looking for?

–great soccer shots of the kids!

–examples of high, grainy ISO that is turned black and white

–any before and after samples that show how the dramatic difference in what you learned, so others can learn (you will need to upload each image seperatley)

–how your choice of White Balance made all the difference

–examples of Metering and Manual mode making all the difference!

Don’t miss this awesome opportunity!  Deadline is next Wednesday, July 28th!

For all the juicy details, CLICK HERE!

xoxo,

Me Ra

Thanks so much for your understanding, all your support and especially your prayers.

xoxo,

Me Ra

If you loved Airika and Gerald Pope’s first four Wedding Photo Tips, you are going to really LOVE  tips 5, 6, and 7!   Ready for the rest of this awesome Wedding Photo Tips post?!  Here we go!

5.  Know Your Surroundings—Scout Before Shooting

We can’t stress enough how important it is to scout the locations that you will be shooting ahead of time. We try to do this before the wedding day AND at the same time of day that we will be shooting there. That way, we know that the lighting conditions will be similar to what we’ll experience on the wedding day. Sometimes we’re not able to scout a location before the wedding day, simply because the destination is too far from our home. In this situation, we ask our clients to send us any photos they may have taken during planning visits and then we arrive about one-two hours early on the wedding day so that we can fully scout out the location before we start shooting. Some people may think we’re crazy for doing that much research, but I can’t tell you how many times being familiar with our venue has helped us work efficiently & creatively when faced with scheduling or weather-related challenges.

When scouting, look for hidden or unexpected spots where you might be able to capture a unique photo. Select a spot for the first look (if applicable), the couple’s portraits, wedding party, and family photos. It’s also good idea to identify some indoor or covered areas that will be a good alternative for photos if the weather is not favorable. If you’ve done this prior to the wedding day, communicate this information with the couple and their coordinator so that the involved parties can be ready & waiting in the appropriate photo spots. Knowing and communicating your plans will save time, and will ensure that you, “the photographer” are not the reason a couple’s wedding is running late.

6. Backups—Required.

If you can’t afford to purchase a full set of backup equipment yet, there are other options. You can rent equipment, or you might be able to find another photographer friend who’s just getting started that you can share gear with on wedding days. However, if wedding photography is something you are going to be doing long term, you will eventually need to invest in backup gear.

Secondly, always backup your images! Download your memory cards as soon as possible, and don’t erase those cards until you have at least two copies of the photos on separate hard drives, preferably in two different places. This may seem tedious, but two copies is the bare minimum. We keep three-four copies in separate places (main computer, backup drives and online) at all times.

Remember, there are no second chances at weddings, and you don’t want to risk losing a couple’s wedding memories because you weren’t prepared. Do whatever it takes to preserve their images.

7.  Details—Everybody Loves Them!

No matter how busy, stressful, or rushed the wedding might be, make time to shoot the details. Get photos of the rings, the flowers, the venue—anything and everything that adds interest and personality to a wedding. Your brides have worked hard to create these details, and they want to remember them. Not only that, but these are the images that photo Editors look for when choosing which weddings to feature on their blog or in the next issue of their magazine. And brides usually love getting their wedding featured!

We especially love capturing a creative detail photo of each couple’s wedding rings. We try to incorporate an aspect of the couple’s wedding, whether it is one of their details, their colors, or just something quirky that we’ve found throughout the day.

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Airika and Gerald are dear friends, and Brian and I can’t thank them enough for posting their gorgeous photos and awesome wedding photo tips!  Hope you’ve enjoyed this as much as I have!  They spent hours making these two posts, and we are all better photographers for it!  Thank you so much Airika and Gerald!  We love you two, xoxo, Me Ra and Brian

Airika & Gerald Pope (a.k.a. “The Popes”) are a husband and wife photography team. Although based in Seattle, they are passionate about artistically interpreting wedding stories for couples in love all over the globe. To connect with them and their work, you can visit their photography blog at www.blog.thepopes.com

When MeRa first asked us to write a guest post for her blog, a million ideas started running through our heads. The one idea that stuck out above the rest, however, was to write a post for those of you who have never photographed a wedding, or who are perhaps preparing to shoot a wedding for the first time. These thoughts are just a few of the things we wish had known or done before photographing our first wedding. We’ve tried to include some application notes along with each piece of advice. We hope that these ideas will help guide you toward becoming a better wedding photographer. Happy reading!

~ The Popes

1. Second Shoot—A Lot

If we could go back and start all over again, I think that we would second shoot for at least 5 weddings before jumping into photographing one on our own. When we were first getting started in wedding photography, the entire wedding day process was a bit overwhelming.  By second shooting, you have an opportunity to simply shoot while also seeing how another photographer works. Not only will this help you get the feel for the flow of a wedding day, but it will also allow you to gain experience shooting without the added pressure and responsibility that comes along with shooting a wedding on your own.

The best way to find second shooting opportunities is to find photographers in your community who typically shoot by themselves and often need (or wouldn’t mind having) a second shooter along. Community groups like the Seattle/Tacoma PUG (there is a PUG in every major city) are great ways to connect and meet other photographers.

2. Have Confidence—Or at least pretend that you do.

I know that for those of you who follow MeRa’s blog and/or have attended her Confidence Workshops this isn’t a new concept, but having confidence is key when shooting a wedding. For us, this means more than simply knowing how to use our equipment. It’s about our attitude and demeanor, starting with the very first time we meet with a couple. It’s about having trust in your ability to capture a photo, to tell a story, and to provide your clients with images that they will love.

We spend a lot of time with the bride and groom on their wedding day, and when they look at us, we want them to see the energy and excitement we have and know with confidence their wedding photos are going to be awesome. If we take a bad photo (yes, we ALL take them!), we just smile, keep shooting and pretend like it was one of the most beautiful images we’ve ever captured. True story! It’s important that you don’t let any personal doubts affect your interactions with your clients. If you have confidence, your clients will feel relaxed and your photos will look great!

The best way to gain personal confidence is through experience—get out there and shoot—a lot. You can do this through second shooting, do portrait sessions for friends or family, or attend local classes and workshops.

3.  Always Have a Contract—No exceptions!

Whether you are shooting for coworkers, neighbors, family, friends, or even your spouse everyone signs a contract! It will protect you and your client, and it is one more opportunity for you to clearly communicate to your clients what they can expect from you. If you could perfectly communicate everything with your clients, then you would prevent most of the disputes that people run into.  The problem is that people aren’t perfect, so get it in writing.

If you don’t know where to start, you can check out the Professional Photographer’s of American (PPA) website. You can also have a lawyer draft a contract specifically tailored to meet the needs of your business. We have a lawyer who we love, and I know Me Ra has a great one too, so if you need a recommendation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of us.

4.  Plan Ahead—Then, Be Flexible

Weddings can be a little crazy, to say the least. That being the case, it’s important to do everything you can to be prepared. We always meet with our clients for a pre-wedding consultation a few weeks before their wedding to walk through the photo schedule and make sure they have reasonable expectations for the day. This helps us to identify any scheduling “problem areas” and gently address them with the couple before their wedding day. For example, if a couple is in love with one of our past weddings where we had three hours of creative portrait time, but they’ve only given us a 15 minute time slot for photos, then they need to know that we cannot accomplish the same type of photos in such a short amount of time. However, if they love our documentary work, then 15 minutes is probably going to be all they need for us to be able to capture the photos they’re looking for. The key here is, and always will be, communication.

You may find it helpful to have a clause in your contract that requires a pre-wedding consultation. Not only will it help you to be better prepared, but your clients will love knowing that you have thought through their day enough to be able to advise them on their photo schedule. However –don’t forget that this is their day and ultimately, your job is to serve them, regardless of any scheduling decisions they may make.

Wedding Photo Tips 5, 6, and 7 are coming up on Monday!!

Airika & Gerald Pope (a.k.a. “The Popes“) are a husband and wife photography team. Although based in Seattle, they are passionate about artistically interpreting wedding stories for couples in love all over the globe. To connect with them and their work, you can visit their photography blog at www.blog.thepopes.com.

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*Are you a Seattle mom? If so, enter to win Sony Camera, Private Lesson
with me, and more! You’ve got 24 hrs left to enter! Details here!
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