Weller Fotography, Ltd

Senior Photos: Carolyn

2009-10-22T11:54:00.000-04:00

Carolyn did a great job! She was very easy to work with and her pictures show it. Enjoy:

All Images copyright Weller Fotography 2009

Joel & Brittany Childs

2009-07-26T19:11:00.002-04:00

Ryan & Claire Mason

2009-07-12T23:25:00.004-04:00

Check out a few photos from Ryan and Claire's wedding in Warsaw, IN.

Sean & Candice Hudson

2009-06-25T16:11:00.003-04:00

Ethan & Kirsten Harting

2009-06-25T15:54:00.001-04:00

Zach & Andrea Sounhein

2009-06-17T18:09:00.008-04:00

Brad and I had a great time photographing Zach and Andrea's wedding just outside Chicago. Here are a few shots from my first review of the photos! Enjoy.

Becki and Josh

2009-04-30T14:42:00.009-04:00

On Monday, I had the pleasure of working with Josh and Becki. We met up at Goodale Park (downtown Columbus), worked our way around the green area and then walked over to the Short North for some more urban-feeling photos. We used one of my favorite buildings in Columbus; a bright teal and orange monstrosity with posters in the windows. It works so well.

Josh and Becki both are professional runners, so I thought it would be great to get a few shots of them "doing what they do" together. You might recognize them from a local road race, or a major marathon. In fact, Josh won the Columbus Marathon last Fall. We're looking forward to photographing their wedding this July.

Images Copyright Weller Fotography 2009

Miller/Claprood Wedding

2009-04-21T19:35:00.006-04:00

We had a great time at Morgan and Derrick's wedding. They are now officially Mr. and Mrs. Claprood.

The wedding took place at Bethel Methodist Church on Bethel road in Columbus. The sanctuary there is extremely dark. Even our f/1.4 primes were struggling with the "no flash" rules (which are quite common in most church weddings). Although we brought lighting along with us, Morgan and Derek wanted their "posed" wedding party shots done outside. This allowed us to utilize a very nice, sun-shielded courtyard at the middle of the church. We used natural lighting only and got some great results.

Here are few shots from around the church grounds (we may or may not have borrowed the neighbors shed).

Images Copyright Weller Fotography 2009

Renting Stuff

2009-04-15T11:56:00.006-04:00

As a relatively new company, Brad and I don't always have the extra cash on hand to purchase all the photographic equipment we want and/or need. When this happens we turn to rental equipment to help us get by. We've had a great experience with renting since day one. There are several companies out there that have top-of-the-line equipment available at a moments notice.

Our provider of choice has been LensProToGo from day one. We've received nothing but the best in customer service from the owner Paul Friedman. He answers every call and email. His customer service is the reason we go back time and time again.

Just yesterday I was reserving a couple of lenses for use this summer. I finished up the phone call with Paul, and about 5 minutes later he called me back with a way for me to save some money and keep the lenses for a longer period of time (at no additional cost). Did he have to do that? No. Could he have made more money from me? Yes.

I guess this is more of a great buying experience and a recommendation than anything. So, photographers, if you're in need of a lens, body, or nearly any other piece of equipment for professional, recreational, or trial use, go check out lensprotogo.com.

Ansel Adams on Digital Photograhy

2009-03-25T14:13:00.006-04:00

Brad and I saw an article today on silberstudios.tv about whether or not Ansel Adams would have gone digital. In Ansel's own words:

“I eagerly await new concepts and processes. I believe that the electronic image will be the next major advance. Such systems will have their own inherent and inescapable structural characteristics, and the artist and functional practitioner will again strive to comprehend and control them.”

We both thought that maybe he would have said "no" to digital. Perhaps Ansel's forward thinking is why he will be always be remembered as one of the greats.

We posted a couple of new videos on the right sidebar: one of Ansel Adams and one of Chase Jarvis. Each will give you some tips for better photos. Enjoy.

Thanks to Derek for sharing.

Simply Sandi Album Cover: The Process

2009-03-20T09:57:00.013-04:00

Image Copyright Stylos Records 2009

About a month ago, we were on location in Indianapolis, IN working with recording artist Sandi Patty. After a long day of shooting in the studio, we went out to Coxhall Gardens in Carmel for the final shot of the day. The above photo is the result.

I asked Anna Trent of Atkins Entertainment to give a little background information on the new album.

For Simply Sandi, we wanted listeners to experience Sandi in a different way. It's very intimate, very much what you would experience if you were at Sandi's home, singing around a piano. We wanted the cover to reflect that simplicity. The shot that WellerFoto took is in a very grande and beautiful setting, but at the center of that shot is the simpleness of Sandi on a piano. I think that those buying this new album will know exactly what they will be listening to just by looking at the cover. It's Simply Sandi and Kyle and Brad (Weller Foto) captured that beautifully!

So now you know our inspiration for the shot. We worked over the coloring of the image to give us a very high contrast look with "blue blacks" and a golden hightlights. You can see the difference from the original shot that I have posted below:

Photo Copyright Weller Fotography, LTD 2009

After editing on our end was finished, the photo was sent over to Brandswag Corp for the designing of the album art. Austin Wechter, designer at Brandswag, had this to say about his design decisions with the album artwork from front to back:

The image for the Simply Sandi CD was already chosen, I just had to choose which version of that image I liked the best. It was an easy choice since the client and I both liked the same image. It had some great colors and effects but still kept Sandi as the focus. For the image behind the lyrics I wanted something that would add a graphical element to the spread without taking away the readability of the lyrics. I chose the close-up of a flower carved in wood for behind the lyrics.

For the production and thank you pages of the CD Insert I needed images that didn't have a lot going on and had large amounts of dark or white space so I could place text over the image. I found the image of Sandi by the Window and the wooden chair perfect for these pages. As far as the back cover of the CD, I wanted to use an image that didn't neccesarily show Sandi since I had used her image on the front cover. The image of her hands on the piano keys was great. It put Sandi's presence on the back without showing her and allowing more room for the track listing and UPC code.
And with that you have a short glimpse of what our process is like after we capture an image. As much planning and vision as it takes to set up the desired shot, a lot can be done after shooting to create exactly what the client is envisioning.

P.S. Sorry, you'll have to wait for the CD to see the rest of the artwork that Austin is describing! Check out sandipatty.com for more details.

Working with Senator Voinovich

2009-03-09T13:22:00.007-04:00

Photo Copyright Weller Fotography, LTD 2009

On Friday I had the opportunity to photograph Senator George Voinovich at an event held downtown in Columbus, OH. He was honoring a number of nominees for the military academies and I was hired to take some candid shots as well as run all the nominees through a "photo line" with the Senator. It was pretty easy work as far as photography goes, but I wanted to make sure I did a good job. I used a simple two-light set-up for the line and an SB-800 on camera with bounce card for the candids.

I even nabbed a shot with the Senator and myself.

Photo Copyright Weller Fotography, LTD 2009

Fantastic iPhone Photography Has Forced Me to Apologize to My iPhone [FROM GIZMODO]

2009-03-01T13:37:00.005-05:00

I just read an article/looked at 100 great photographs taken with iPhones. Maybe I should start an iPhone photo of the day, kind of like @chasejarvis does on Twitter. I don't know if I can live up to these, however!

Check out the link for crappy-camera goodness.

100 Amazing iPhone photographs.

Nikon Launches "DTOWN" Web-Show

2009-02-26T11:09:00.007-05:00

Hey, Nikon DSLR users! Check out Nikon's new weekly web-show called DTOWN.

It's "brought to you by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski with KelbyTraining.com. Join them each week as Scott and Matt share their photography knowledge along with the coolest tips and tricks out there for Nikon’s digital SLR cameras."

It looks really well done aside from the apparent and awful green screen back drop. These guys definitely know what they're doing with Nikon's DSLRs and can probably enlighten you to many tricks, tips, and techniques no matter what shooter you use.

The first episode is up for viewing here.

Or for download here.

Dokdo or Takeshima - The Big Picture - Boston.com

2009-02-25T16:47:00.007-05:00

I lived for a year in South Korea and not a week went by that I didn't hear about the dispute between South Korea and Japan over a tiny island called Dokdo or Takeshima. Today I came across a "The Big Picture" article and photo essay containing some stunning shots of the island and the dispute.

Isolated, tiny and desolate, The Liancourt Rocks are the center of an international dispute that dates back to the 15th century. Koreans claim sovereignty over what they call "Dokdo", while the Japanese maintain that the islets are theirs, calling them "Takeshima". South Korea currently administers this collection of 90 islands and reefs in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), centered about halfway between South Korea and Japan - with only 2 permanent residents and 40 government workers stationed there (police, lighthouse keepers, Fishery Ministry personnel). Although the dispute is centuries old, it has heated up recently due to several incidents: increased efforts in Japan to call attention to the dispute itself, a flip-flop last year by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names where they briefly labeled the rocks as having "Undesignated Sovereignty" (undone by executive order within days), and the public observations in Japan of "Takeshima Day" on February 22nd. South Korean citizens have staged numerous protests against Japan over the past few years, some with extreme demonstrations, including a woman and her son who cut off a finger each, and one man who attempted to set himself on fire.

Click here to see original article with 14 amazing photos.

Posted using ShareThis

Leibovitz is Using Her Photography as Loan Collateral

2009-02-25T15:38:00.004-05:00

I came across an interesting article today about Annie Leibovitz in the New York Times, talking about how she has used her entire collection of photographs as collateral for some $15 million worth of loans. I cannot imagine 2 things: Ever needing $15M, nor ever having photography worth that much to use in that way.

Most people would typically use homes, cars, and other assets to secure a loan, but Leibovitz felt confident enough to borrow against her life's work.

Apparently she is not the first, and will not be the last artist to make this a regular practice. A company called Art Capital Group makes this possible everyday for artists, giving loans of $500,000 and up at interest rates from 6%-16%. If the borrower can't pay? They keep the art work, display it, and sell it.

What are your thoughts? As an artist would you risk your work (and all rights to it) for a loan? Is there a better way?

Sandi Patty Shoot - Feb. 19, 2009

2009-02-18T12:13:00.007-05:00

Image Copyright Weller Fotography, LTD 2009

Yesterday we had a great shoot with Sandi Patty. We used The Nest Studio in Carmel, IN for the shoot and had a great result. We'll be posting some behind-the-scene shots and time-lapse video this weekend, and some of the shots, we can't show you yet!

Sandi was great to work with, she was very relaxed and confident. We want to thank Anna Trent who directed the shoot, Jacque Workman - makeup/hair, and Ellen Kingston - stylist.

Stay tuned for more shots and the video! Thanks for checking in with us!

Ready to Start Taking Better Photos?

2009-02-17T15:08:00.005-05:00

Not ready to step up to an expensive DSLR, but love taking photos? Why not take better photos with these great "Point and Shoot" photography tips from Beyond Phototips? They give out some great basic advice for making better photos with the camera you already own. So before you go out and look for something new give these a try:

Don't use the LCD display to compose your shot.
Brace yourself.
Be "slow n steady."
Squeeze the "trigger" don't press.
Breathe right
Use a higher ISO (for low light)
Use the self time and a tripod

Click here to get all the juicy details and start taking better photos.

Preserve the right to Photograph!

2009-02-16T14:27:00.005-05:00

I read an article several days ago about a new law going into effect today in London that would prevent photographers (or anyone) from snapping a photo of any member of the armed forces (police, the guys with the furry hats - constables). The penalty? Up to ten (10!) years in prison.

The British Journal of Photography organized a demonstration this morning to exercise the democratic right to take photographs in public spaces, calling the new law an abuse of the Terrorism Act of 2000.

What do you think? Should you be allowed to take a photograph in a public space? Of members of the armed forces? Can you see an abuse like this coming into effect in larger US cities? Would you risk 10 years in prison for a photograph?

http://www.1854.eu/2009/02/photographers_to_make_their_vo.html

Why is wedding photography so expensive?

2009-02-14T13:15:00.002-05:00

Author: John T. Bryant

This is the age-old question that usually gets asked right after the lead-in question of “How much does it cost?” Most couples are shocked at what even decent wedding photography costs. Most think “you’re only taking a few pictures – why so expensive?” Sometimes you’ll hear “geez, that’s like $400 to $500 an hour – I don’t even make that kind of money!”

The reality is that most people aren’t aware of what actually goes into making great pictures that you’ll cherish for the rest of your days. They’re not familiar with the processes that most photographers go through – it’s much more than just showing up to take the pictures and then handing you a CD or printed proofs. There is actually quite a bit that takes place before, during and after your wedding that contributes to the final result.

Before the Wedding

Most good wedding photographers didn’t just wake up one day able to make the kind of beautiful images that you see in their wedding portfolios. Most of them started their careers with education – both formal and informal – on how to make great pictures. Professional photography is definitely an acquired skill. Most photographers spend years learning how to master their camera equipment, lighting scenarios, image composition and different posing situations that work (and ones that don’t work). Formal education is often supplemented with internships, on-the-job training and many hours spent making, evaluating and re-making picture after picture.

Having gotten this far in their photography careers, once the photographer decides to take the plunge into wedding photography, a significant additional learning effort must be undertaken to learn and perfect the science and the art of photographing weddings. Many, if not most photographers will start this process by working (usually for free) on anywhere from a few to a dozen or more weddings as a “second shooter” with an experienced wedding photographer. Much like driving an 18-wheeled semi-truck is different than driving your passenger car, making great photos at a wedding is completely different from making great pictures in a studio or for a newspaper or magazine.

Once the photographer has a handful or more weddings under their belt as a second shooter, they will often perform a couple of weddings for free or near-free as a primary shooter. It’s critical for the photographer to continue to gain experience in the dynamic wedding environment. This experience is invaluable, as you never truly understand the demands of dynamic event photography until you’re “on the hook” to deliver the final product from start-to-finish.

During the Wedding

During the wedding, your photographer (or photographers) will arrive many hours before the ceremony to capture the details – often this includes the bridal party getting ready (hair & makeup, putting on the dress, etc) as well as the groomsmen and groom getting ready. Also, as the ceremony and reception areas are set up the photographer will capture the details of the decorations, table settings, etc. Of course, the photographer(s) will then make photos of the ceremony and reception, as well as any send-off.

After the Wedding

This is the component of the process that is probably the most misunderstood by the average person, as it is the one that they have little-to-no exposure to, generally speaking. On average, your photographer will spend anywhere from two to four hours on the back end – selecting, processing, enhancing and tweaking your images – for every hour that they are in front of you. That means that an average 8 hour wedding will require, at a minimum, a total of 24 to 40 hours of work on the part of the photographer. A “one day” wedding has suddenly turned into almost a full week of work.

Other Considerations - Equipment

Most photographers will need at a minimum of two professional quality camera bodies (usually three or even four including backups), which can cost anywhere from $1500 to $6000 or more. Add to that an array of lenses costing anywhere from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars each, lighting equipment,

Here’s what the average professional photographer’s equipment bag might look like:

Item	Quantity	Cost - Each	Cost - Total
Camera Bodies – primary	2	$3000(average)	$6000
Camera Bodies – backup	1(+)	$1500(average)	$1500
Assorted Lenses	4	$800 (average)	$3200
Lighting Equipment Kit	1	$2500(average)	$2500
Flash(es)	2	$500	$1000
Total			$14,200

Add to that a robust computer and monitor plus required software, etc and the costs can be more than $20,000 just in basic equipment to be able to make, edit and process photos. And like most technology, much of the above equipment will be obsolete in 3-5 years due to advances in capabilities and industry trends.

Other Considerations – Location

This is an important one to keep in mind as well. Southern California is a very expensive place to live. Real estate alone is ridiculously expensive. Add to that the very real costs of health insurance, some of the highest fuel costs in the country, general costs of doing business (marketing and advertising, printing, utilities, etc) and you can see that it can get very expensive, very quickly just for someone to make the move into the wedding photography business.

In Closing

The intent of this article is simply to attempt to illustrate that which most couples shopping for a decent wedding photographer never realize – that there is much more than “show up and shoot” on the day of your wedding that went into your photographer’s ability to be there and make images that will be cherished for the rest of their lives.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_462167_41.html

Occupation: Professional Photographer

John is an accomplished photographer and half of the team at eden photography based in Orange County, CA.

http://www.edenphotography.net

Engaged! Morgan & Derrick

2009-02-13T17:02:00.010-05:00

This was a cold day, but Morgan and Derrick were great about being in snow. Fresh snow really made for a great day of shooting as we walked around Gooddale Park and The Short North. We are excited about shooting their wedding this April here in Columbus in some warmer weather!

Laughter

2009-02-13T16:03:00.011-05:00

Kurt and Becca - Columbus, OH

Image Copyright Weller Fotography, LTD 2009

-----

Coming Up...

2009-02-13T16:01:00.002-05:00

We’ve got a great shoot lined up in Indianapolis next week. We’ll be working with recording artist Sandi Patty for her album jacket images. We previously photographed her family and had a great time. We’re looking forward to working with Sandi and her crew again, this time on a professional level.

We are coming up on our One Year Anniversary, and we’re thinking of having a get together for all the people who have helped us get up and running over the past year, including clients, friends, and family.

Busy!

2008-08-13T14:52:00.008-04:00

We've been very busy these past weeks with several weddings. They have all been a lot of fun to shoot and we are really appreciative to all the couples that let us in on their day and allowed us to capture it for them. Thanks to you guys, we've been getting lots of buzz and referrals going! Our website traffic has drastically increased and even hits on our Facebook page have skyrocketed. Here are a few photos from some of the weddings. Enjoy!

Family

2008-06-04T15:09:00.004-04:00

This past weekend was great. On Friday we had the pleasure of photographing the largest family I know. It's also one of the most hospitable families I know. For me (Kyle) it was probably the most fun I've had taking photos. I hope I have the opportunity to photograph more people who are as enjoyable.

Here a few samples from the shoot: