There's a fairly new photography blog out called Photocrati. Your's truly is a featured blogger on the site.
Photocrati is devoted mostly to fellow photographers and they've assembled a diverse team of bloggers ranging from wildlife to travel to weddings. As you might havd guessed, I'm the wedding photographer on staff and I've been writing quite a few articles about what it's like to photograph weddings here in Tampa Bay. I also write about technical stuff... gear and the like, that I wouldn't really talk about here.
So, if you're interested in the technical side of wedding photography in Tampa, head over to Photocrati.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Wedding photography lighting workshop
Wedding photography, more than most other forms of photography, is a constant learning process. For the most part, standard portrait photography stays fairly static but wedding photography is always evolving in style and equipment. Add to that the fact that every location is different ( for example, if you are a wedding photographer in Tampa Bay you better know how to take pictures on the beach ) and you find yourself constantly learning.
Last week I attended a seminar by David Zizer. David is from Ohio and is considered one of the best wedding photographers in the country. The current trend in wedding photography is photojournalistic but David still concentrates on more classic poses and lighting. I firmly believe that there is a place for both styles at a wedding and since David is the best at what he does, I wanted to see what I could learn from him.
First of all, I was pleased to discover that most of what he taught was old news to me. It was nice to learn that I already have the skills necessary to work in his style. Still, there were some nice surprises at the semeinar. I picked up a few lighting tips that were new to me.
One of the things that David is well known for is his use of wide-angle lens. Most wedding photographers will claim a zoom lens as their "go-to" lens but David is the exact opposite. He likes to shoot wide and capture the surrondings in striking detail. I think that the reason many photographers don't shoot this way is because they don't know how to light the subject and still preserve all the details in the background. Plus, the ambient light in the background is always a different temperature than the flash and that presents a problem as well.
After the seminar I spent a late night working on David's techniques and I feel I got a firm grasp on his style. The picture below is a self-portrait ( I was up late working, don't be cruel.. ) that shows the sort of style that I will be using more often for my formal portraits. The tricky part of a picture like this is that you have to match the color of the flash to the color of the chandelier light, then light the subject in a complimentary way. It's very tricky but when done right it can be a very rich image instead of one where the entire background is dark and uninviting.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Senior Portraits Tampa Bay
For more pictures of Tampa Bay Seniors, visit my website at www.boorayperry.com.
Kaitlin called me in a panic last week because she had somehow managed to miss both picture days at school. I was able to do a rush session for her that turned out great despite having very little time..
This shot is a good example of why so many photographers don't have studio space anymore. With the right equipment and skill you can get great lighting and composition on location with the added benefit of using a real tree instead of a prop.
This is called the "Lomo" effect. The Lomo camera is an old Russion-made camera that became famous for the way it would saturate and vignette images. Now, photographers can duplicate that look in Photoshop.
This is a "senior card" that I custom designed for Kaitlin.
Kaitlin called me in a panic last week because she had somehow managed to miss both picture days at school. I was able to do a rush session for her that turned out great despite having very little time..
We rushed to the nearest railroad tracks and shot for 30 minutes. You can never go wrong with girls + railroad tracks. This is my favorite picture from the shoot. Kaitlin is 15 years old and looks older in this shot. It's like seeing the future.
This shot is a good example of why so many photographers don't have studio space anymore. With the right equipment and skill you can get great lighting and composition on location with the added benefit of using a real tree instead of a prop.
This is called the "Lomo" effect. The Lomo camera is an old Russion-made camera that became famous for the way it would saturate and vignette images. Now, photographers can duplicate that look in Photoshop.
This is a "senior card" that I custom designed for Kaitlin.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tampa Wedding Photography
Brad and Cindy were married on Saturday and I had the privilege of being their photographer. More Tampa wedding photography pictures can be seen on my website but here are a few of my favorites from the day.
The reception was held in an office building which made for a tough time finding a good location to shoot some couple's pictures. I recently had a client tell me that a photographer had told her that she wouldn't get good pictures because of the time of day she had scheduled her wedding. That's ridiculous. A good photographer finds a way. Lucky for me there was a brick wall right by the entrance. All wedding photography can benefit from a good brick wall. :)
I loved this picture the minute I saw it but for some reason it just screamed "old." Maybe it's because I like those magazine ads that feature pictures from the 70's. This picture just looked to me like something you would see in the album of a couple married for 20 years. So, I aged it a little in Photoshop.
When Cindy told me how big her wedding party would be I decided to break out the big lights. The trend currently is to take casual formal pictures (and I do..) but there is still something to be said for the old-fashioned, full group shot. With a group this big you really need a couple of large studio lights to get a good, even light across the entire frame.
I was setting up to shoot Cindy in front of these doors when a bridesmaid said, "Let's put Brad on the other side!" Great idea!
Here's the shot I was setting up when I took the one above. The scenery outside the doors wasn't the best so I frosted the glass in Photoshop.
Another reminder that I need to keep a sewing kit in my camera bag. They had to send down to the front desk for a needle and thread when one of the loops broke on Cindy's dress.
The reception was held in an office building which made for a tough time finding a good location to shoot some couple's pictures. I recently had a client tell me that a photographer had told her that she wouldn't get good pictures because of the time of day she had scheduled her wedding. That's ridiculous. A good photographer finds a way. Lucky for me there was a brick wall right by the entrance. All wedding photography can benefit from a good brick wall. :)
I loved this picture the minute I saw it but for some reason it just screamed "old." Maybe it's because I like those magazine ads that feature pictures from the 70's. This picture just looked to me like something you would see in the album of a couple married for 20 years. So, I aged it a little in Photoshop.
When Cindy told me how big her wedding party would be I decided to break out the big lights. The trend currently is to take casual formal pictures (and I do..) but there is still something to be said for the old-fashioned, full group shot. With a group this big you really need a couple of large studio lights to get a good, even light across the entire frame.
I was setting up to shoot Cindy in front of these doors when a bridesmaid said, "Let's put Brad on the other side!" Great idea!
Here's the shot I was setting up when I took the one above. The scenery outside the doors wasn't the best so I frosted the glass in Photoshop.
Another reminder that I need to keep a sewing kit in my camera bag. They had to send down to the front desk for a needle and thread when one of the loops broke on Cindy's dress.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Tampa engagement pictures
For more engagement pictures go to my website http://www.boorayperry.com/
A few weeks ago I had this idea for a shot. I wanted to shoot a couple surrounded by blurred movement while they stood frozen in time… in their own world. The first obstacle to overcome was how to shoot a long exposure on a sunny day. A neutral density filter solved that problem ( I used a 6 but really needed a 9). Next I had to get the couple. Lucky for me I was getting ready to shoot an engagement session at the University of Tampa which sits on Kennedy Blvd, one of the busiest roads in town.
So, after about an hour and a half with my clients I finally asked them to stand in traffic. They were totally on board with the idea and stood there without moving for about 15 minutes while I stood on my own little traffic island with my tripod, shooting away.
Now that it’s done I’m pretty pleased with it for a first time effort. Of course, off the top of my head I can think of five things that are wrong with it but that’s the perfectionist in me and I’ll do better next time. (By the way, I really want to do this shot with people as the blur… like in the middle of a busy crosswalk.)
“So,” I said, “How do you feel about standing in traffic?”
A few weeks ago I had this idea for a shot. I wanted to shoot a couple surrounded by blurred movement while they stood frozen in time… in their own world. The first obstacle to overcome was how to shoot a long exposure on a sunny day. A neutral density filter solved that problem ( I used a 6 but really needed a 9). Next I had to get the couple. Lucky for me I was getting ready to shoot an engagement session at the University of Tampa which sits on Kennedy Blvd, one of the busiest roads in town.
So, after about an hour and a half with my clients I finally asked them to stand in traffic. They were totally on board with the idea and stood there without moving for about 15 minutes while I stood on my own little traffic island with my tripod, shooting away.
Now that it’s done I’m pretty pleased with it for a first time effort. Of course, off the top of my head I can think of five things that are wrong with it but that’s the perfectionist in me and I’ll do better next time. (By the way, I really want to do this shot with people as the blur… like in the middle of a busy crosswalk.)
The entire shoot was great. Here are few more images, see the rest at http://www.boorayperry.com/
Booray Perry is a wedding photographer in Tampa FL.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Bar Mitzvah Photography in Tampa
For more Bar Mitzvah photography, visit my website www.boorayperry.com.
I shot the Weinstein Bar Mitzvah in Tampa on Saturday. It was a nice event and great people. One of the things that they did (which I always think must be great) is hold the party in the same hotel that most of the out-of-town guests are staying in. It's just so convenient when you don't have to worry about transportation for everyone.
The trend right now at Bar Mitzvah's is to turn the lights down and pass out a bunch of glow-sticks, etc. This makes it tough on me because if I use flash you can't see the lights and if I don't, everything is a blur. So, I try to corral a couple of kids and play a game I call, "How still can you stand while I take this long exposure."
The "Cha-Cha Slide." It always seems like the Moms are having the most fun at these Mitzvah's, which is only fair since they usually do all the work!
As always, when ever there is a lull in the activities, I start looking for the kids.
The theme for the Bar Mitzvah was "World Cup Soccer."
I shot the Weinstein Bar Mitzvah in Tampa on Saturday. It was a nice event and great people. One of the things that they did (which I always think must be great) is hold the party in the same hotel that most of the out-of-town guests are staying in. It's just so convenient when you don't have to worry about transportation for everyone.
The trend right now at Bar Mitzvah's is to turn the lights down and pass out a bunch of glow-sticks, etc. This makes it tough on me because if I use flash you can't see the lights and if I don't, everything is a blur. So, I try to corral a couple of kids and play a game I call, "How still can you stand while I take this long exposure."
The "Cha-Cha Slide." It always seems like the Moms are having the most fun at these Mitzvah's, which is only fair since they usually do all the work!
As always, when ever there is a lull in the activities, I start looking for the kids.
The theme for the Bar Mitzvah was "World Cup Soccer."
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Family Portrait Session - University of Tampa
For more family portrait, visit http://www.boorayperry.com/
I had a session at University of Tampa last week with John, Sandi and Jack. Sandi was the winner of our Free Family Portrait Session that we gave away in conjunction with Parent Guide magazine. They were just wonderful the whole time and little Jack was just a dream. So many people say that photographing children is hard but it really depends on the child because Jack takes to the camera like a champ.
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