Pixel That! Photography

My value is in my head, not in my bag…

Brian — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:28:59 +0000

I saw this video recently and just had to respond. There are many out there who believe it’s easy to be a professional and do what I do. I have had brides in the past who, in an effort to stretch their budgets, have gone with other photographers who are amateurs just getting started. Usually they come back to me and say they wish they would have spent the extra money.

In that same vein, we have the MWAC attack lady. She says you just need a DSLR and to put it in auto-mode to let the camera do the thinking for you. Once she learned this, she and her husband decided she would be a ‘professional’…. Just like that!

I’m absolutely not knocking someone getting interested in photography and working towards making a living from it. But I am against people who spread bad information. After 3 years of being in this business full-time, I still feel I have a lot to learn. In that 3 years I’ve spent thousands on workshops, books, seminars, shootouts, etc. On top of that I’ve spent tens of thousands on equipment…

Anyway, this is my response. What are your thoughts? Brides of mine, would you like me to shoot your weddings in ‘auto’ mode?

Saying ‘Farewell’ – An Operation Love Story

Brian — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:51:28 +0000

I’m going to keep this short and sweet. As many of you already know, I’m a member of an organization called ‘Operation Love Reunited‘, which provides complimentary photography coverage for military families.

I recently had the privilege of spending time with the Walsh family as they said goodbye to a brother & son who is leaving to Afghanistan this month. To respect the families’ wishes I will be leaving names out of this blog.

Because of their crazy schedule the Walsh family was only available evenings after sunset; a time when light becomes a bit of an issue

Enter our hero David LaNeve, owner of the ‘Orange County Photography Center‘ and Op-Love member. Not only did he provide the space for this shoot as a gift to the Walsh’s, but he volunteered his own time as a 2nd photographer. So David, a special thanks goes out to you for being so hospitable.

The photo’s show the pain, hope, and sorrow of having a family member depart for such a task. This is especially apparent in the last few photo’s in which we have our soldier sitting in the studio chair with his parents saying what they will miss most about having him here at home.

Enjoy the photos, and send out your prayers to the Walsh family for a safe return from Afghanistan for their son & brother.

A move, a car accident, and a house flood: How I Survived

Brian — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:12:32 +0000

To say that the last month has been a bit of a struggle would be an understatement. Val and I were looking to move into a new place and received approval 1 day before said move needed to be completed. Thank God for good friends and close family who were able to help us out after receiving calls at 8pm asking for a hand

Shortly after our move my car was mistakenly towed from our new home. After paying $300 and 1/2 the day to get my car back, Val and I decided to start with a clean slate, ignore the tow, the money, and the frustration. “Let’s not let it ruin the rest of our day” Val said as we headed to church for Trunk or Treat. About 5 minutes after that comment traffic came to a stop on the freeway. Well….most of traffic came to a stop, except for the lady behind us who was going 55.

A quick trip to the hospital afterwards and Val and I were given a clean bill of health aside from some bumps, bruises, and whiplash.

Fast forward to 1 week ago when a pipe burst under our kitchen sink and I came downstairs to a flooded kitchen. Really? Are you kidding me?

I have had a calm throughout all of these events. My only explanation is that my faith has given me security when it feels like everything is falling apart. On top of that I have amazing clients who have been absolutely wonderful. Not only have I felt a calm through these events, but I’ve felt blessed. Thank God we drove my car that day, which no doubt took the impact much better than either of our other two vehicles would have. Thank God I discovered the broken pipe in our home sooner rather than later.

We have headaches that we still need to deal with as a result of this months events, but that’s life. These things will always pop up. Having the right frame of mind as you deal with them will help you get through.

As for now, I’m sitting at my laptop catching up on edits & album design for Laurel & Omar, Cynthia & Nick, and Jennie & Adam, among others.

Val and I came out to visit my Grandma to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with her and my side of the family. She’s buzzing around the table ’tisk tisk’ing’ at my laptop and editing equipment while she tries to set the table. Being very happy with the way her decorations came out she asked me to take her photo, despite not having my ‘big fancy camera’. Again, I’m content.

Cinestyle Released & Tested

Brian — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:18:06 +0000

Canon engineering has teamed up with Technicolor and the ASC Directors of Photography to produce an amazing photo ‘style’ to use with the 5dmk2. And the best part? It’s FREE!

You can download it and the accompanying instruction HERE.

Below you can see the Technicolor profile and how it appears in screen shots vs the Canon profiles built into the camera from the factory. The photo’s below are simply frames taken from actual video, they are not edited.

Since you are essentially shooting the jpg equivalent of hi-def video with your HD-DSLR, it’s important to cram as much information into the compressed video format. I recommend shooting without adding contract or sharpening to your video. That’s always something you can do in post production if desired.

Once installed set the following settings in your picture style:

Sharpness: 0

Contrast: -4

Saturation: -2

Color Tone: 0

And as always, shoot in multiples of 160 ISO when doing any kind of video on your 5Dmk2. These ISO’s are native to your camera sensor, specifically for shooting video. For example, you can shoot ISO’s of 160, 320, 640, 1250, and 2500. I try not to go over ISO 1250 if at all possible. Something shot at 400ISO for example would have much great noise than something shot at 640. Again this is only in reference to video, the same is not true of photos.

Upon first use you might feel like the video isn’t what you’d prefer, it’s flat and somewhat desaturated. That’s a good thing, you can always adjust the exposure levels, add contrast, and add saturation. Shooting using Cinestyle should be done when you plan to adjust the video in post-production, otherwise you may be better off using one of the original styles for your video.

Here is an example of video I took using Cinestyle. This is Terry Wollman performing a song off his latest Album -Buddha’s Ear at Vitello’s in Studio City. This was shot using the 5Dmk2 with a Canon 70-200IS2 lens and a Rode Stereo Mic.

Disneyland Engagement: Krista & Thomas

Brian — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:24:36 +0000

He worked at Disneyland and so did she, but they worked unaware of each other. After being introduced online and chatting for some time they made the startling discovery that Thomas was an Adventureland man, whereas Krista was a Fantasyland girl. Friends and family disapproved and said this Romeo and Juliet story would never work due to their vast work-induced cultural differences. Despite the controversy they pushed onward.

Fast-forward 5 years later.

She sat at her computer updating the ‘info’ section of her facebook page. ”My boyfriend and I have been together for 5 years and don’t see that changing anytime soon”. Cue Adventurer Thomas. No longer would he allow these passive aggressive musings on Facebook to continue, he would do something, he would take a stand, Adventure-land style.

During dinner at Arroyo Chophouse in Pasadena, Thomas dropped to one knee. Krista answered his question with an ecstatic ‘Yes!’. After the dust settled her one regret was not having her family there. They realized after their food arrived they were both too excited to eat, and Krista couldn’t wait to go see everyone and show them her new bling! The two of them wrapped things up and she walked out of the restaurant to a group of 35 smiling faces waiting to celebrate with them. (Good job Thomas!)

Krista & Thomas are getting married next May and I’m excited for their upcoming wedding! In true Krista & Thomas form, we met at Disneyland for their engagement session. Here are a few of my favorites…

All aboard the Mark Twain for a romantic steam boat ride!

We found this little spot (by ‘we’, I mean Thomas) near the entrance to the blue bayou. It was perfect and secluded, we had a blast here!

To see more of Krista and Thomas’s Disney engagement photos, feel free to CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Don’t Forget About the Fella’s! – My Take on Suits at Weddings

Brian — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:38:05 +0000

I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I just don’t get the joy and satisfaction out of shopping/fashion like many of our female counterparts do. Generally, wearing a V-neck with jeans and a pair of rainbow sandals is the norm for me (even in winter). It’s easy, what I’m used to, and best of all it’s comfortable. Shooting weddings and events is one of the times when I’m all dressed up with a tie and everything.

I started noticing a trend in weddings starting with one I was a part of a short while ago. Recently the groom/groomsmen are opting for nice suits vs a tux. It totally makes sense to me. You can get a great group rate on purchasing a nice suit that you get to keep beyond the wedding day vs renting a tux for single use. You can pick up your suit in advance, you don’t have to return it within 24 hours, and don’t have to sweat whether your best man is going to be too hung-over to return yours on time (just kidding Trust me, the ladies love a man in a suit just as much as in a tux (see below).

If you need a little help on where to start, here are a few pointers. Of course it’s important no matter what you wear to make sure that you’re comfortable. Oftentimes when I get a call from a client asking about what they should wear to a shoot and I usually say ‘whatever makes you feel beautiful’ (if it’s a bride). But the same principle is the same for the guys too. Make sure you feel comfortable and stylish, it will reflect in your smile and demeanor in photos. When you look good, you feel good too!

That being said, take a look above. Notice the tie is the same width as the lapel. This gives a super clean/tidy look. Ties have gone from being fat, to skinny, and are now reaching a middle ground. You can’t go wrong with a classic grey or black suit TAILORED. I was in a wedding not too long ago and we purchased tailored suits and every time I slip that puppy on I feel like a million bucks. Keep in mind that there are different cuts of suits, try them all on and select which one works best for your body. My biggest suggestion is to make sure you buy something you can afford. Don’t go overboard and spend a ton of dough. Instead spend your money on a great tailor. I get compliments on my black suit all the time, and it was less than $500. Thanks for reading fella’s and be sure to let me know if this helped you out!

Ask Away: Profoto Lighting

Brian — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:48:41 +0000

One of the biggest problems a wedding/portrait photographer can face is shooting in locations where there just isn’t good light! When scouting a location for engagement shoots, or for future weddings the lighting is the first thing I look for. It’s only after I’ve found quality light that I’ll consider the background and composition.

Finding flattering light is so paramount that Bob Davis has gone as far as to shoot in front of a dumpster in an alley because that’s where the best light was!

When you can’t find naturally diffused light, you need to make your own. Especially when shooting large groups/objects. The Profoto Pro-B3 1200 Air-S lights allowed me to get some great shots recently at the Montage in Laguna for one of my favorite clients, The Shea Center. I wanted to share both the photos and tips on using the profoto lights. So enjoy this segment of ‘Ask Away’!

PS – Although I think my Toyota Avalon is a pretty sweet ride, no I don’t think it is worthy to be shown alongside the Lamborghini, but it was the only thing I had that was big enough to simulate a large group

Riding a tandem is like marriage – Allison & Matt

Brian — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:34:42 +0000

What’s that, you say? I’m reaching by comparing marriage to riding a Tandem bicycle? Read on!

Allison is a former roommate of my wife’s from her college years, so we go way back. Her last name was ‘Kunkel’ which is just plain fun to say (trust me, try it a few times). So when I’d pop into their place you’d hear something along the lines of, ‘Hi Kunkel’, and her response was always, ‘Sup, B?’.

Fast forward to her April wedding and we hear the story Allison’s father Dan, who told of Allison asking him to pray with her before going to bed as a little girl. Dan would get beside her bed and pray for the man that she would someday marry, that he would have the qualities a husband should. He prayed that her future groom would place Allison above all others, that he would respect, honor, and cherish her. Dan proudly announced that Matt was the answer to that prayer.

Matt and Allison love being active together, and their wedding showcased that with a special item: a tandem bicycle:

We incorporated the bicycle into their ‘romantics’ right as the sun was setting. ’Romantics’ are what I call the photos of the couple by themselves.

As we were taking the photos I remembered a time when my wife and I were riding a tandem on our honeymoon. We were staying in San Francisco for a few days before heading up to wine country. We decided to ride over the Golden Gate bridge into Sausalito for the day. (Side note: When Val signed the rental agreement it was the first time she signed as ‘Valerie Carter’).

So we set out on our tandem and we were riding up a huge climb of switchbacks to get to the beginning of the golden gate bridge and I’m absolutely dying. Sweating my butt off, muscles aching, breathing heavy, lungs on fire, the whole 9 yards. It’s at this point I look back and see my lovely bride with her legs lifted up off of the pedals taking a breather…

So here’s where Matt & Allison’s tandem inspired me. It’s a simple matter of how riding a tandem with your spouse relates to marriage. As a husband and wife, you are a team. Although you’re always working together it’s important that you identify each others’ strengths. Allison, there will be times when you should sit in the front seat because you are more familiar with the territory. Rest assured Matt will be supporting you by pedaling his heart out and giving you words of encouragement. That’s the kind of guy he is, and that’s why your mom & dad were so darn happy on your wedding day . Likewise there will be times Matt will sit in front, and it will be your turn to support him as he does you. Matt when you need a little extra help, ask & encourage your wife to pedal a little harder. Sometimes Allison, you may get tired and feel like you just can’t do anymore, lift your feet up and take a break, Matt can pedal on his own for a while, that’s what husbands do!

This simple analogy comes from someone who is only 2 1/2 years into his own marriage, but I feel that it’s as true for me as it is for an ‘old married couple’. The key is communication. Ask for help when needed, and pedal extra hard for your spouse when they feel like they just can’t go any further.

Wishing all the best to you both, your wedding was beautiful! Of course I have to share a few more photos below

3 Ways to Bring Back the Blue! – Photo Lesson

Brian — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:22:25 +0000

Have you taken a photo of a beautiful blue sky with something/someone in the foreground and your camera just isn’t capturing it the way you see it? This lesson teaches you how to position yourself and use tools to bring back the blue!

Thanks for submitting your question Bobby! We will discuss the option of using Hi-Speed Sync in a later segment, so stay tuned for tactic #3 on ‘Ways to Bring Back the Blue!’

If any of you have photo questions, please submit them to Brian@PixelThatPhotos.com

Refraction, Reflection, Direction, Oh my! – Photo Lessons

Brian — Mon, 02 May 2011 22:43:15 +0000

Have you ever wondered what the heck all of those dials are on your camera? If I walked up to you and said ISO, aperture and shutter speed would you think I was speaking a foreign language? Have you missed special moments with family and friends because your camera didn’t do what you wanted it to? Well then this post is for you!

My goal is for you to get the MOST of of your digital camera. I don’t care if it’s a point & shoot or a digital SLR; or whether you’re taking photos of your kids, a rock concert, or taking on your first wedding. I’m here to answer your questions; nothing is too simple or too complex, so ask away!

If you have a question email me: Brian@PixelThatPhotos.com

I look forward to helping you grow as a photographer