Quinceanera Photographer Tampa

Last night I took pictures at a Quinceanera in Tampa and it was great fun. As I was standing off to the side, taking pictures of the family members being called up for the candle lighting, I started thinking about my job. There aren't many jobs where you get to eavesdrop on people at some of the most joyful moments of their lives. It's hard work (last night I averaged one picture every 20 seconds) but at the same time very rewarding knowing that you're responsible for preserving these moments forever.

It's a great job.

Here are a few pictures from the event...

Booray Perry is a Quinceanera photographer in Tampa

The day after Thanksgiving

This is what bored photographers do when they are watching their children at the playground...

Booray Perry is a bored photographer...

Tampa Photography Studio and Online Proofing

There are a lot of photography studio's in Tampa Bay and a lot of photographers who work from home. In fact, probably the vast majority of photographers that you find on the Internet are home based, typically shooting weddings and Bar Mitzvah's and sometimes location portraits.

Most of these photographers do their proofing online. That is, they upload your pictures to a website and let you select them there. The problem that comes from online proofing is that not everyone's computer is color balanced the same so what you see online isn't always a true representation of what you will get in your prints. Also, if you're interested in framing or a wall collage you're pretty much left to your own devices.

This is why I always conduct a one-on-one viewing with my clients before I upload to my website. When you come in to see your pictures you will be shown some that are re-touched and learn about what that process entails and you'll see some sample wall collages that we've put together for you. In addition, you will be able to look through 160 collages, 100 frames and 100 different mat combinations, with your ideas projected at actual size so that you can see exactly what the piece will look like when it's finished.

Honestly, it would be much easier to just shoot the pictures, upload them to my website and wait for the orders to come in but I think that robs the client of my expertise in print selection, collages and framing. I think of it this way: When I need a new suit, I always go to a men's store instead of a department store. Not only is the selection better but, more importantly, the employee's at a men's store are more knowledgeable about men's clothes and as a result are better able to help me make good decisions about a suit.

Your photographer is the best person you know to help you decide how to display your prints.

Booray Perry is a photographer in Tampa Bay

Mr. Wubbzy I presume..... can I call you Wow?

I did an event today in Safety Harbor with the folks from Parent Guide Magazine. It was great fun and all the kids were very excited to see Wow Wow Wubbzy. I spent about a half hour taking pictures of all the kids with the big yellow guy and we got pretty good at communicating back and forth with hand signals and stuff since for obvious reasons Wubbzy doesn't talk.

A little while later I'm photographing a family and I look over to see this big guy smiling at me. So I smile back. Later, I catch his eye again and he gives me a big smile... and he's standing there in a t-shirt and shorts all sweaty like he just jogged over to the park or something... and looking at me like he knows me. So, now I'm trying to figure out where I know this guy from because I meet a lot of people and it's not outside the realm of possibility that I might forget having met him.

Nothing. I got nothing.

Still later, I'm talking to Jack, one of the owners of the magazine and there's the guy again, walking up to us and smiling at me. Jack turns and says, "Oh, here comes Wubbzy..."

OH! Now I get it! He's the guy in the outfit that I took about 100 pictures of! No wonder he was smiling at me! In his mind I'm the guy he's been working with all day but to me he's just some sweaty dude who's freaking me out a little (it's hot in those costumes). The more I thought about it the more it made me smile.

Everyone was really nice and we had plenty of sign-ups for the free portrait session we are giving away. If you want to be included in giveaways and such be sure and sign up for our newsletter on the left.

Booray Perry is a photographer in Safety Harbor who doesn't recognize people when they aren't dressed as Wow Wow Wubbzy...

Family portrait day at the beach in St. Pete

Booray Perry is a beach photographer in Tampa, FL...

Quinceanera Photographer Tampa

I spent my Sunday at the University of Tampa taking a Quinceanera portrait. On weekends, University of Tampa is like a photographer's convention. I counted about seven different professional photographers taking family portraits while I was there. At one point I thought we might have to start lining up for each location. :)

I spent about a half hour posing the lovely Janelis in her beautiful gown but it just wasn't working. She looked great, the dress was great... but the pictures were wrong. This girl has attitude... and her body language was fighting every attempt to portray her as a porcelain doll. So, I tried a new tactic. "Just relax and be cool," I said. It was the picture of her leaning on a pillar with her hand on her hip that Mom picked as the one that looked the most like her daughter. I see this a lot with clients. They start out wanting something that is very rigid and posed but when the time comes to actually decide on a print it's the one that best portrays the personality that wins...

Booray Perry is a Quinceanera photographer in Tampa

Tampa Senior Portraits

I've been so busy lately with our latest mimi-beach session that I haven't had time to write about the senior portrait session I had with Salisha. She was just wonderful the whole time and we got so many images it took her and her mom over an hour to decide on which ones they liked best. Below are my personal favorites as well as a special print I created for her graduation:

It was one of the most productive senior portrait sessions I have ever had!

Booray Perry is a senior portrait photographer in Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater.

Land O' Lakes photographer gets the big head

I had something pretty cool happen today. If you're a photographer, you're always a little insecure because all art is subjective. Most of us are in the business because we want to create something with emotion or beauty or both... and so we frequently are trolling for a compliment... just a little validation from someone so that we know we aren't producing terrible work. It's especially nice when it comes from someone unexpected.

I had to call my lab today because I was having some trouble uploading an order (Surprise! My fault!). I mentioned that I was in Tampa and she asked me what my studio was called. I told her my name and she said, "Oh my God! I love you! Your work is awesome!"

Now, there is no way that the girl who answers the phones at my lab could possibly know who I am so I called her on it. "You're just blowin' smoke," I said, "You don't know who I am."

"Yes I do," she said, "I audit the print runs all the time and I love your designs."

"They tell you to say that to every photographer who calls, right?"

"No, I really do love your designs. You just recently had a coupon done with a little girl holding a present..."

It's funny, I get compliments all the time (well, maybe not all the time) about my work but it really made my day to hear that a girl who looks at prints all day long remembers mine. So, I'm writing this post about it and the next time I get a little down, I'll just come read this. :)

Booray Perry is a photographer in Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Wedding Photography: What to buy

Talking to several different wedding photographers can drive you a little nuts. If you can find two wedding photographers who charge the same prices for the same services it's a miracle. We come in all shapes and sizes (and price ranges). So, I thought I might write a little bit about what you should buy from your photographer. I'll do several posts in the coming weeks, each highlighting a different wedding product.

We'll start off with The Proof Book.

This is an easy one because I include it for free but not all photographers do. A proof book is usually a spiral bound book with 4-6 pictures per page and contains every picture from your wedding. Even though you will be able to look at everything on the big screen in my studio and then online, it's not the same as having the pictures in your hand. Plus, Grandma and Grandpa may not be as comfortable surfing the web as they would be sitting on the couch and looking through the proof book with you. If your photographer doesn't include it, buy it. In fact, get two: One to keep forever and one that your friends and family can mark up with notes and such about the day or what prints they might want.

Tampa Portrait Photography

Being a portrait photographer, you notice every picture you see no matter where you are. I'm probably the only person (besides the subject) who actually takes a close look at the manager's pictures at Publix. I suppose if you own a nursery, you notice plants wherever you go but me, I notice pictures.

A business portrait is pretty straight-forward as pictures go. The lighting is never creative and typically follows a standard that's used by just about every photographer on the planet (that's why all the business portraits tend to look alike). Still, a good photographer should treat a business portrait with as much care and respect as any other... maybe even more. If I have a client come in for a boudoir session, it's a long process and requires a lot of post-shoot work. Those pictures may never be seen by anyone other than the husband. But a business portrait... well, that's fairly easy to do, but that portrait may hang on the office wall or go in the newsletter or on the website (or the wall at Publix) so in terms of exposure it may be the most seen type of photograph I take.

The bottom line: Treat every portrait session like it's a work of art.

Booray Perry is a portrait photographer in Tampa and St. Petersburg Clearwater

Bar Mitzvah Photographer Tampa

Why is this post called, "Bar Mitzvah Photographer Tampa" when it doesn't have a Bar Mitzvah picture? Well, because I just did a portrait session for a Bar Mitzvah boy but I can't post it online because it's a surprise. So, instead I'm going to post a picture of my family that I have converted to a pencil drawing. I'm thinking of having it canvas mounted for my office.



Booray Perry is a Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah photographer in Tampa...