Ceremony and Reception: Dry Gulch Placer
Catering: Harvest Catering
Couple’s Website: www.lindsayandcharlie.net
Unfortunately, I don’t usually get to photograph to many locals from Breckenridge, Colorado. So when I can’t tell you how pleased I was when Lindsay and Charlie approached me about photographing their wedding. I was equally excited to photograph a Dry Gulch Placer that was recently renovated last year by another local, John Cooney. Please enjoy the photos.
Happy New Year, everyone. OK, in addition to being less nerdy. I have some more serious resolutions for 2012. In addition to the usual resolutions such as to ski and ride my bike more, loose weight, and spend more time with my family, this year I want to pay special attention to my art. Read More…
Engagement sessions are a great opportunity for couples to get to know their photographer. The engagement session gives the photographer a chance to understand what the couple is looking for in terms of photos, and it gives the couples a chance to see how their photographer works. I like to think of it as a practice run before the wedding.
I like to start the engagement session off with some posed shots like the one below. A posed shot can be static or dynamic, meaning I might have a couple sit still, or I might give them something to do like walking along the beach.
10 Tips for Photographing in Boring Locations
I am very fortunate that I get to photograph weddings in some of the most amazing and gorgeous locations in the world. However, every once in a while I end up photographing a wedding that isn’t on a California beach or the mountains of Colorado or Nepal. In those cases I need to reach in to my bag of tricks. The following are ten tips and tricks for photographing when your location is less than ideal.
The number one rule in photography should be to follow the light. This image was made in a very small bathroom. I liked the light coming in through the blinds on the shower curtain, so I had the bride sit in a chair in front of it. Then I pulled the shower curtain over her shoulder. The result was a lovely high key portrait.
When used properly, lines are a very powerful element of an image. In this image the lines made by the bridge lead the eye directly to the couple. Although not everyone has access to a ironwork bridge, think about similar objects such as a hallway or tunnel. An object does not have to be pretty to add beauty to an image. Read More…
What should I name my photography business?
Chances are they do not evoke much of anything. People asking for help with naming your photography business is probably the question I see most often in photography forums. I end up answering it 3-4 times per day. Many new photographers struggle over what to name their business. They feel pressure to come up with something cute and catchy. However, the more time and energy photographers put into the naming process, often the more cliche and unappealing the names become. Consider names like these:
This list goes on. My question is, ‘What images do these names evoke in your mind?” Chances are they do not evoke much of anything, because the names are too vague. “Through the Lens’ could describe just about about any photographer. No individual comes to mind, and that is the beginning of my point.
The Problem
Photography is a business of individuals. it involves individual clients connecting with individual photographers. The name and personality of the photographer are crucial to the identity of the brand. In nearly every way, the photographer IS the brand. Any type of catchy name just dilutes that brand in the eyes of potential clients. Look at the following example to see what i mean:
Let’s say the aforementioned Storybook Photo Studio is owned by photographer, John Smith. Now, let’s say Jane is a client that hires Storybook Photo Studio to photograph their wedding. John Smith is the photographer who shows up and does a fantastic job that Jane, the client, is very pleased with. She ends up telling all her friends how wonderful John Smith was to work with. Now John Smith gets a reputation has a great photographer, but the name of this studio is Storybook Photo. Many clients will not link “John Smith” with “Storybook Photo.” Much of his good reputation will be lost on the fact that people will not always link his name to the name of his business.
The Solution
The solution is simple. When I started my photography studio back in 2000, I really wanted to come up with a catchy name. Fortunately for me, I couldn’t think of one. And even if I could, I didn’t have the money or the business sense at the time to deal with the additional paperwork that comes from naming a business anything but my name. So, I ended up with Timothy Faust Photography. In hindsight, it was one of the best business decisions I have ever made. It was simple and effective. In three words I let the world know who I am (Timothy Faust) and what I do (photography.)
Not only does it simple and effective, it has also worked out very well for branding. When past clients want to refer someone to me, all they need to remember is my name, not the name of my business. When you Google “Timothy Faust” this website is the very first result. The next several results include my Flickr, Facebook, LinkedIn, online reviews, and other blog and social networking pages. It makes it very easy for individuals to find me.
The Exceptions
Of course there are times when using your name, might not be the best method for naming your business. For example, if you are starting a studio that features multiple photographers that come and go over time, you want a studio brand that stays consistent. This is also a good idea if you plan on selling your studio one day, and do not want your name attached to it any longer. Also, using a different name can make your new company appear bigger than it is. For example, something like “Chicago Portrait Photographers” might give the impression that your company is the biggest in Chicago. It will also rank higher in the Google search results when people search for “Chicago portrait photographers.” However, bigger does not usually mean better. A name that attracts a high volume of clients will not necessarily attract the most money. Sears Portrait Studio is the highest volume studio in the country, but they operate on margins that are far to small for individual photographers.
If you have a common name, you might find that there are already other photographers with the same name. This can make things a bit more challenging. In that case, you can use a slightly different word than “photography.” For instance, If John Smith Photography is taken, try John Smith Studio, John Smith Weddings, John Smith Portraits, or even John Smith Photographic Arts. Ideally you will be far enough away geographically from the other photographer to not cause confusion. Also, do not worry about legal issues with using a similar name to someone else. Using your own name protects you against trademark issues.
In Conclusion
Using your name for your photography business makes you, your skills, and your personality a major part of the brand. It lets clients know that you are willing to put your personal reputation on the line when it comes to your photography. It is simple and effective when describing to clients what you do. Putting your name up front will also help clients find you using internet search engines. Unless you have a compelling reason to do otherwise, you are probably best off just using your own name in your photography business.
Further Reading
Great Article from Not Your Normal Photography School: http://www.nynphotoschool.com/articles/busine…
“Capture the Moment” is a phrase that gets tossed around a lot by wedding photographers. In my opinion it is used far too much, to the point where I have even seen new photographers use it in the name of their businesses. When I ask photographers why they use it so frequently, I usually get a conversation like this:
New Photographer: “I want to set myself apart from the competition.”
Me: “Does your competition not capture the moment.”
NP: “They do, but I want customers to know that I don’t just do boring stiff wedding photography.”
Me: “Does your competition actually advertise boring wedding photography?”
NP: “Well no, but…”
I want to challenge your preconceptions about wedding photos A lot of times we have a lot of preconceived ideas of what wedding is supposed to be. Some of those preconceptions are good, like the idea that the day is supposed to be a celebration of the couple’s love. Some of those preconceptions are bad, like the ceremony has to follow a predetermined formula.
What I want to do now is challenge your preconceptions about wedding photos. I want you to abandon the idea that your only choices are formal posed photos with your friends and family in a line and candid photos. In reality, your photos can be whatever you want them to be, and I want to throw the idea at you that your wedding can be the perfect time to create something beautiful and different. If you want, you can help create some truly artistic wedding photography.
Ceremony: Denver City Park
Reception: 910 Arts Gallery
Couple’s Website: www.graceandmari.com/
Mari and Grace have been long time friends of Carin and I. I think one of their first dates was hiking with Carin and I around Boulder back in 2007. They joked about how well documented their relationship has been since I have often had a camera with my while hiking with them.
Like Carin and I, Grace and Mari and avid outdoor enthusiasts. They have helped me by modelling for outdoor photo shoots on several occasions that have entailed everything from yoga to rock climbing. Last year when I was teaching a fall colors photography workshop, the even agreed to help out by modelling for the entire workshop for some great fall climbing shots.
I am not always so fortunate to have had so much experience photographing a couple before their wedding, but this was a lucky exception. I was thrilled when they asked me to photograph their Denver wedding. Have known them so long I felt we clicked really well. It was easy for me to figure out what they were looking for, and after the last four years of me photographing them together, they knew they could trust me. These are the photos from their Denver wedding.
One of the best things about photographing a wedding for a friend is that there is a huge amount of trust. Mari and Grace allowed me to play and experiment. Some of the things we tried didn’t work out, but a lot of them turned out to be amazing. I was able to experiment more with black and white, traditional film, and infrared photography than I normally would at a wedding.
It also provided an opportunity for my wife, Carin, who has been studying photography for several years to shoot her first real wedding. Overall the wedding was a beautiful experience.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that same sex marriages are still not legally recognized in Colorado. To learn more about how you can support marriage equality in Colorado or your own state visit:
Location: Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail, Colorado
Officiant: Chris Tunner
Helen called me about photographing their small intimate ceremony this past August in Vail. As much as I like smaller ceremonies, I normally do not have the time to fit them into my busy wedding schedule in the summer. However, when Helen told me that her and Matt were getting married that the Alpine Gardens in Vail, she got my attention.
The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens are gorgeous, and I had never had the opportunity to photograph a wedding there before. I agreed to shoot the wedding as long as they let me work on some of the more experimental ideas I had, and they enthusiastically agreed. The following are some of my favorites from the wedding day.
Location: Vail Racquet Club, Vail, Colorado
It is always fun to have another photographer ask to me to photograph his or her wedding. In this case, Ace has been working as a professional photographer for many years and I was honored when he asked me to photograph his and Gwen’s wedding. Here are some photos from their wedding in Vail, Colorado.
