The Kansas City Wedding Photographer

Brooklyn

Kristopher Saim — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:07:00 +0000

Brooklyn, originally uploaded by kristophersaim.

Brooklyn

Beautiful Music For Your Wedding

Kristopher Saim — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:38:28 +0000

While out during my lunch break today, I came across an a little musical duo in the heart of the Crossroads District in Kansas City. The two guys were both playing string instruments and they were amazingly sharp. I am not sure how often they play out in front of YJ’s (the little cafe / restaurant), where I spotted them, but they played so well I couldn’t help but take a few pictures of them. I started thinking back to the most recent weddings that I have shot and I can’t remember the last time my bride and groom actually used anything other than the piano to play their wedding music. The piano is fine but something about the weather and the music coming from the violin and the cello (I think) just caused me to stop and think about the couples I have been privileged enough to photograph on their wedding days and the fact that I haven’t heard any string music lately at weddings.

If you are planning your wedding now, I urge you to check out a small string duo, trio or quartet. If they are as good as the guys in today’s picture, you will thank me for the idea.

It’s Veteran’s Day, God Bless America & Thanks Dad

Kristopher Saim — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:20:44 +0000

It’s Veteran’s Day folks, the day when we thank all those servicemen and women who serve to protect our country and our civil liberties. As part of the #PhotoADay challenge I set out to find something patriotic. My options were few and far between, but just as I was about to give up, I noticed high in the air, perched at the top of the construction site that will be home to Kansas City’s Kauffman Performing Arts Center an American flag.

I hope you took an opportunity to say thanks to your Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Uncle, Aunt or other relative that made a sacrifice for our country. My Father served in Vietnam and everyday I am thankful that he was returned home safely to our family. Everyday I am proud of the fact that my Father was brave enough to endure the pain and torture of Vietnam.

So thanks Dad and to every one of our Veterans I also say thank you. This image is for you.

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Low Key Portrait Photography

Kristopher Saim — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:50:46 +0000

Pushing the limits of little light and shadows can bring out the most mysterious and dramatic photographs which make perfect pieces of portrait photography to hang on the walls of your home. For today’s #PhotoADay image, I forced my reluctant model, AJ, to head outside in the dark and pose for a few shots. Lit only by a security light and hidden in the shadows, I was able to produce a low key portrait I was really happy with.

It’s always fun to push clients to try something different and quite honestly I think the differences are what make us as photographers individuals and truly artistic. One of the things I am hoping to accomplish by taking a #PhotoADay is to try to establish apparent differences in my imagery. By doing this I hope to be able to provide my future clients with finished products they love and images they couldn’t get if they chose to work with another photographer.

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Twitter #PhotoADay Challenge

Kristopher Saim — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:21:05 +0000

Today marks day number one of the Twitter #PhotoADay Challenge. Some of my Twitter friends were gracious enough to accompany this wedding photographer on a journey to motivate and challenge me to push my creative limits. In return, I am doing the same for each of them.

It doesn’t matter what the subject is in each photo, but everyone has to upload a photo into our Flickr group everyday. You can actually follow along OR join us if you want!

Each day, I am striving to try something new. Maybe I will push the lighting to a new limit or perhaps I will strive to try a setting or technique that I have only read about. Regardless of what I shoot, I will try something that is going to push me out of my comfort zone.

To be a better wedding, portrait or landscape photographer, it is imperative that we challenge ourselves everyday. With a little help from my friends, I plan to do just that!

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Fall Wedding And More

Kristopher Saim — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:52:06 +0000

Fall is shaping up to be a busy season. I have yet to do a fall wedding, but that is about to change as one set of my new clients is about to tie the knot in November.

Their wedding is not all that is on the horizon though, I have newborn pictures (at the hospital, no less) coming up in early November and 2 year-old Dani’s birthday / family pictures and family pictures for another set of clients that I met at a friend’s birthday party.

It might not sound like a lot to you, but for me it basically occupies all of the weekends that I had free from now until early December and I am extremely excited!

All that said, there is still time to book an evening session if you are looking to have pictures of your kids or your family in time for the holidays. Just drop us a line using our contact sheet and we will get back to you ASAP.

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1/2 Of Photoshop World

Kristopher Saim — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:35:33 +0000

So I have been looking forward Photoshop World since I won my tickets about 9 months ago. I have been counting down the days. Finally, I was packing my suitcase and boarding the plane. I had planned to blog and Tweet non-stop while in Vegas and had even started off on the right foot. Unfortunately for me, my trip was cut short due to a family emergency. So there can be no major Photoshop World recap only this 1/2 of Photoshop World rundown.

Photoshop World in 2.5 days was pretty amazing. I think I may have packed as many cool experiences into my pre-con day and day one of the convention as many people pack into an entire 3 day conference.

One of the highlights of this trip for me was meeting so many of the people that inspire me on daily basis via Twitter. At the Tweet-up, I was able to meet a bunch of people that I have been talking to and sharing photos with for more than a year: @NAPP_News, @JanineSmith, @aj_wood, @RobKnightPhoto, @DawnMHSH, @LayersTV_RC, @MattKloskowski, @awew, @edpflager, @CathyDK, @tigerbright, @SoonerMike88, @theScriv, @ScottBourne, @weewood, and @StudioDee — I know I met others — but these folks captured most of my free time while in Vegas.

Fortunately for me, Photoshop World in Orlando is looming around the corner and I will be sure to make it through the entire convention.

Visit my Kansas City photographer website.

Shooting A Wedding With A Pro

Kristopher Saim — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:52:23 +0000

At Photoshop World I had the pleasure of spending 6 hours on pre-con day with internationally acclaimed wedding photographer, David Ziser for his Wedding Photo Shoot Pre-conference class. The class was amazing for several reasons, but most importantly, it was great to see David Ziser in his element. David shot all of his wedding shots just like he does when he is at home in OH / KY. And contrary to popular belief beautiful images are possible with one Canon 580 EX II and one Quantum T5d-R. Check out David’s lighting solution:

Quantum T5d-R off camera on monopod
FreeXwire FW7Q
Turbo 2×2 pack (recommended)
FreeXWire FW9T
Turbo SC battery pack
CZ flash power cable
Hot shoe mounted Canon 580 EX II

For more information on these lighting supplies, visit Quantum’s website.

While it was challenging to get a good shot over David’s shoulder or from the side, etc (too many other photogs in the way, lol), it was great to actually photograph the set-up. Once David has a chance to edit all of the photos, attendees of the class even get the finished copies of the photos. My goal at that point is to compare some of my shots with his and I will hopefully be able to see exactly how to replicate David’s great wedding shots and use some of those ideas to improve my own wedding images.

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Geeking Out With My Photography / Photoshop Idols

Kristopher Saim — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:51:40 +0000

Ok, I didn’t “geek out” according to Nantz (@NAPP_News) but I did meet the man, the myth and the legend last night — I shook his hand even and it’s true, Scott Kelby is an amazingly friendly guy! I was astonished at how well I kept my cool, it was a as if I got to meet people like Scott everyday. I am sure I will have another interaction or two with him while I am at Photoshop World and I am looking forward to talking with him again.

In addition to meeting Scott, I also met quite a few of the behind-the-scenes folks at NAPP and I can say first-hand they are an awesome bunch of people. I had the pleasure of spending the evening hanging out with Nantz, Matt Kloskowski, Corey Barker, Jason ‘The Scriv’ Scrivner and several other NAPP folks (Kevin, Victor, and Leslie). These are class acts people — very friendly and easy to talk to. I even have a couple of photos of Nantz, Matt, Leslie and I but unfortunately it was a failed attempt to hold my camera phone and you can just see the tips of everyone’s heads, except Matt’s (it’s in the whole picture).

So, if you are in Las Vegas this week for Photoshop World, be sure to introduce yourself to anyone in a NAPP Staff shirt, I am willing to bet they are all going to be pretty awesome and hearing about what they do at NAPP will be interesting too!

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Photo Blogging Vegas From My BBStorm

Kristopher Saim — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:51:30 +0000

Well it’s official…the Kansas City Wedding Photographer is in the air en route to Las Vegas. It seems like it has been forever and a day since I first knew I would be heading to Vegas for Photoshop World and it is somewhat surreal to actually be sitting on the plane heading there.

As this post’s title suggests, I will be posting photos and blogging using the new Wordpress for BlackBerry application (it’s in beta, so stick with me here). While the photos may not be of the same high quality of my regular blog posts, I will do my best to at least capture photos that might be of interest to you with this substandard BlackBerry Storm camera.

At any rate, stay tuned for updates. Be sure to follow me on Twitter as well, I will most definitely be sharing bits of information via Twitter throughout each day and that will likely be where you can find out about any Photoshop World deals for those of you at home.

Visit my Kansas City photographer website.