Studio J

This is my friend Rene.  He’s a Kitchener wedding photographer.  Rene and I meet regularly to practice together.

We delve into the deep, arcane secrets of location photography:

- seeing and finding light

- scouting locations

- developing an eye for interest and beauty

- operating the camera effortlessly

This can all be learned.  Even developing an eye for interest and beauty can be learned (and having ‘taste’), though that is a longer, harder lesson that might take months or years for some.

If you told your photographer,

Wow, your pictures are beautiful, you must have a nice camera.

… it would be like saying to the cook,

Mmmm, that pad thai was delicious, you must have great pots and pans.

… or to the musician,

That performance was wonderful, you must have a nice piano.

The musician probably does have a nice piano.  The nice piano did play an important part in the wonderful performance.

But what was more important?

- their ‘ear’ for great music

- their dedicated study of music

- the guidance and teaching from instructors

- the inspiration from other musicians

…. and most of all, continual practice and improvement of their craft.

Professional lenses, camera bodies and lights are only a small part of capturing interesting, attractive images.  Practice is very important for photographing people.

With enough practice,

- camera controls become 2nd nature

- correct exposure and sharp focus become 2nd nature

- avoiding composition mistakes becomes habit

- seeing and recognizing beautiful lighting and locations becomes a fast habit.

That frees a large part of your attention for the most important things you can do when capturing people;  observing and interacting with them.

Rene practices like a one-legged man at a kick-butt contest!  He puts in more practice in a week than most photographers manage in a month.  He is always ready with his camera.  When he was shooting professional motorsports, he developed a quickness and a sense of timing that are more useful to wedding photography than you might guess.  Capturing candid moments and real interactions at a wedding requires keen observation and fast reflexes.

You can see samples of Rene’s work at his new website;  rskrodzkiphotography.ca

…… and his blog;  rskrodzkiphotography.ca/blog

Last minute brides who haven’t booked a photographer for their wedding this summer might want to keep an eye on Rene’s blog for a special announcement coming soon.

For people looking to improve their people photography, here’s my 1st tip:

Put the camera down and speak with them.  The comfort level of your subject and how at ease they feel around you will contribute more to good images than all the technical camera mastery you could gain from months of study.

OK, I know, that’s a really short tip.   …..but it’s very important  –> read it 2 or 3 times; that will make it seem longer.

Would my loyal readers (either of you) like me to continue with posting tips on improving your photography?  Leave me a comment or shoot me an email if you like that idea.

My friend Sheila came by the studio last week with country artist Jamie Warren. She was here to get reference photos of him for a portrait she’ll be painting. Jamie came ready for the reference photos and for professional portraits by me. I would be the back-up photographer, making sure Sheila got what she wanted (or that I got what she wanted). I would also have the opportunity to shoot Jamie for my portfolio.

So why do I only have some snapshots to show and no interesting portraits?

Jamie was friendly and relaxed. He seemed comfortable enough in his own skin that I don’t think he would need even a short warm up in front of the camera.
He said, I prefer something different from the tired poses and cliches of country singer photos.
4 seconds of doubt . What if I can’t pull that off?
Give my head a shake; hopefully not visibly. The man just told me exactly what I wanted to hear, gift wrapped! So we can go for more natural looking, unposed portraits and I can play around with different angles and looks. People are constantly giving me happy surprises like that. Computers have been doing their best to balance that trend with other surprises.

Sheila and I are both asking him what he would like.
I’ll tell you, I really have no need for more pictures of myself or a painting of me.

After 5 CD’s over many years, he really does have more than enough and his own image is not an abiding personal interest.
That’s a good, healthy attitude, I think. I’m glad I met Jamie Warren….but now I don’t want to shoot him as much. I have come to rely on my portrait subjects’ interest and involvement in making their images with me. No matter how many great ideas I bring to a session, my enthusiasm and inspiration doubles when we start working with their ideas. Getting excited and playing around. Authentic photos that show the real person just happen then.

I turned off my studio flashes and set up the modelling lights for Sheila to get what she wanted on her camera. She remains undaunted! I would grab a quick shot here and there when it wouldn’t interfere. A studio shoot was out because I really do take over when I’m doing those.

We went outside at the end and Sheila already had her reference photos. Jamie still had some time. I could have had a short, dedicated session but I didn’t ask for it.

Why do I only have some snapshots?

Because I tucked tail and didn’t ask for it!

One day, Sheila can tell the story of how many times she prompted, pulled, invited, suggested and directed me to great opportunities to get myself out there and be seen. …. how many times I had to see her model this in person for me before I finally caught on. I will catch on Sheila. I’m glad you’re around to keep showing me.

Why was Jamie here for a painting and some portraits if he didn’t want more pictures of himself?

…. just to help out an emerging artist and a new photographer.

There’s a common thread I see here with successful people who deserve their success: They help others get what they want.

You can have a listen to Jamie Warren’s new CD release, -Right Here, Right Now- on his website: jamiewarren.com

Sheila Diemert’s paintings can be viewed at her website: artbysheila.anythingmore.com
I recommend seeing these large pieces in person. Check the site for public exhibitions and locations.

Welcome to my website and blog all rolled into one. Today is the official opening of Studio J Photography.

To introduce myself and explain what I’m doing here, I’m going to borrow from my 1^st Toast Masters speech:

If you came to realize that your greatest aspiration in life would certainly fail, as long as you had to work for a living, what would you do? If your dreams required a good 60 hours a week of dedicated effort and you noticed you weren’t independently wealthy, what would you do?

I answered that question for myself in 2005. My answer was to let those dreams go and choose a new occupation, one where I could do something worthwhile to me. I stumbled upon my 1^st inspiration when I discovered Hollywood matte paintings. A matte painting is a large, photo-realistic digital painting. They combine photographic elements with digital painting. They’re generally used as scenes and backdrops in Hollywood movies. Any environment or place that you could imagine, ….. and these paintings took me there!

I knew I would love to do that for the rest of my life.

BUT, there was a problem with matte painting. Matte painters work alone, …. in a cubicle, ….in front of a computer, …..with no social interaction. …….. a recipe for disaster with me. If you put a shy person (even one who was determined to overcome his shyness) in a place like that, what do you get?

……. more withdrawal, a shut-in, a hermit!

Enter my 2^nd inspiration: I’d learned through years of photography as a hobby that my favourite photos were always of people. All the images I had collected from great photographers that moved me, that thrilled me, that made my breath catch, were of people. Images with strong emotion, expression; they tell something about who a person is.

My career ambition is to become a talented matte painting portrait artist. Portrait photography in any environments I can imagine and produce. It took me 2 years, full-time, to improve my portrait photography to a level where I can consistently produce images I’m proud of. Now I have a way of making a living at something I love, while I spend the next 3 or 4 years learning matte painting. I think it will take that long because my progress as a portrait photographer will still require lots of time and effort. The training and improvement never ends!

I’m not very shy anymore. The wrestling maneuvers to get that monkey off my back left me with a permanent interest in social intelligence, grace and social skills. ….. how we can build rapport and connect with other people (and the people who are genius at this). Sometimes, I’ll post here about that. Other times, it will be whatever else is exciting, interesting and inspiring to me. That will often be images and something about the people in them.

I have made a conscious effort to combine my professional and personal goals, so that what I do makes me happy. Doing something meaningful, creating something beautiful, connection and involvement with good people.

I would like potential clients to learn something about me because I think you need to know your photographer and get along with them well to produce the best portraits together. I can’t find a better way of drawing out your real personality in images than for us to get to know each other. ….. and it’s more fun when we’re not strangers.