I had never done this shot before and I'm not even sure what made me think of doing it this time. The group photos are not my cup of tea so I always feel like I'm struggling with them. I usually try to get them relazed because face it, this is the part of a wedding the the wedding party hates the most. I try to do them fast and with laughter. I'll often suggest that the groomsmen give me the finger, 'because you know you want to!' and sometimes they do and I get a funny (although one that won't likely make the wedding album) photo or at least I get them all to ease up knowing that 'I get it!'. But the shot of the groomsmen lifting the bride and the bridesmaids lifting the groom are pretty standard shots these days and even though I didn't have them do that I wanted something fun and to get a reaction. This group was really easy to work with and they had fun. And the best part, when I was done they said--we planned a lot more time for these and they all got a chance to have a cocktail and relax before going on into the reception. SayerMotter Photographs by Richard Sayer.
Summer busy has taken its toll. Over the next few days I'll be posting many pictures from Tina and Jason's wedding. The more I do this work the more I realize that I will probably have to make a decision soon what sort of photography day I want to have--studio photographers with the ability to grow a business or a newspaper photographer in a job that I will keep my fingers crossed will even exist in 5 years. During the time I'm not making pictures I'm finding time to work on pictures and busy times have made this a near impossible task(if it weren't for that pesky sleep thing!!) But I am making progress and really getting excited about getting Tina and Jason their final edits soon(I saw the end of the tunnel, but discovered a card I hadn't downloaded yet so that light got a bit dimmer for a moment.--Thankfully I found the card though!!) I'm finding some moments that are just beautiful, fun and even a little quirky at times and I'll be posting several over the next few days to get caught up. Then---by the end of this week---I will have at least an online gallery for the Columbus bride and groom to have a peak! SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer.
Last week I began developing these ideas that were a spin off of a couple ideas I had years ago. It became apparent to me that I wanted to explore this thing further and better and try to find a way to incorporate it into some art projects and client portrait work. I'm always wanting to give something in the mix that is a little different from what others might be doing. So I went out and got a couple of big mirrors. 4x6 foot so that I had the ability to full length or near full length shots. These mirrors weigh a ton and when I glue them onto some boards for stability they are going to be even heavier, but the possibilities of what we'll be able to do will be great. This was the first attempt and trying them out and this is a cell phone snap of it(I haven't uploaded my dslr photos yet.) I think this will make a nice addition to what we can do for our clients in the future--not only the sort of Kaleidoscope idea, but just the full length reflections we can do with just one of the mirrors. SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer.
Wedding planners never ask the photographer! Because of this one picture we can often miss is that first glimpse of the bride as she enters the church. Why? Because if its a nice day outside, the doors of the church open and the light outside is far more intense than the light inside the church----too much of a difference for our cameras to handle. Many photographers compensate for this by using a flash, but these never look natural or real. And if we expose for the outside light the bride and her dad are too dark and silhouetted. So what I try to do is use the light to create an other-worldly glow that the emerge from. Admittedly sometimes this doesn't work, but when it does its beautiful and soft and filled with light. When it doesn't, well I have time to make very good frames of the bride and her dad making their way down the aisle and usually someone shuts the doors behind them. If not the pictures just slightly from the side will still balance out the light ok. The one shot is chancy, but worth it for those times it turns out great. Photograph of my brother in law and niece. Photograph by Uncle Dick.
So maybe allergies are a good thing. I managed to locate and accomplish the last of the Saegertown Sports team orders today, including an 8x10 team photo for the school....need to do one more of those as well. We had a tough time getting Tyler's picture done between schedules and it was decided that we'd try to put together one from something on the field, an action shot. I hadn't done one with anything other than a posed picture before--although I always thought these would be the best memory mates to make---just hard to get the action shots given the fact that the pictures I take for the newspaper aren't mine to use this way. So I had to take some time to get this shot so that we could make this. Since Tyler is a catcher it was hard to get a shot and see his face. And good batters have their head down, also difficult to get a good shot of his face. So this after inning shot seemed to fit the best. Photographs and design by Richard Sayer.
Well allergies make for interesting decisions. I figured I'd sit and suffer and try to accomplish a few small tasks of toning this morning, and that ended up leading to making this. At first I was thinking about a coffee table book cover but then realized I had put the bride and groom right where the binder would be---which might be ok because the picture ould be whole inside the album and their kiss would be facing out on the shelf, but I decided that maybe I'd just create it like an announcement card---or just it stand on its own as a picture for facebook--afterall facebook is the new refrigerator! My allergies aren't any better, but I at least feel productive. Now if I could only get my Saegertown baseball peeps pictures dine for them--maybe tomorrow mornings allergies will have same affect on me and I'll get those done--or maybe now! SayerMotter Photography allergy relief creation by Richard Sayer.
I believe I only said twice the entire day, give her a smooch. I didn't have to...Tina and Jason were happy and they would take a few moments to look at each other for a second to acknowledge what they just did and they just kissed. I missed a few of these, but not many. As I went through all the pictures I made that day I think I found about 50 of them kissing. Ad everyone of the ones that were caught where better than the couple I tried to encourage. Today I'm spending with Tina and Jason again---at least via computer and photoshop toning etc..... SayerMotter Photographs by Richard Sayer.
July is looking like it is going to be a busy month with senior portraits. I've begun going back and looking at some experiments with lighting and different set ups in hopes to get myself juiced up for the up-coming sessions. I've always been fascinated with mirrored reflections and I think I really want to explore more with this in senior portraits. I know that often it comes down to more traditional images that are needed for the yearbook and or gramma's mantle, but its the exploration of something visually different that I hope is what is attracting so many seniors to us. This wasn't a senior picture and we don't even have the chair or the same studio when I took this, but I think this idea might have some merit perhaps with a nice gown and a elegant drapery in the background. SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer.
One thing photographers are accused of often is being insensitive. In news especially. From personal experience I can assure you that most(though admittedly not all) photographers are not taking pictures of tragedies or any sensitive news event for the purpose of winning awards. We are there to tell the story and you cannot tell the story if you do not make difficult photographs. As I was photographing my niece's wedding I remember a couple occasion where everyone was prompted to pray. This is part of the ritual of being married in a church...it is part of the story. I remember standing behind the official photographer when this was happening and I saw all the hands go up on Sarah and Mark and I noticed he had his camera down. I whispered to myself 'shoot pictures shoot pictures this is important. I tried to find an angle around him to make pictures and to be honest, I'm sure he must've lifted his camera and made a frame of this, I was concentrating to much on shooting myself that I lost sight of what he was doing. But I was thinking, maybe--since he has done more weddings than I have that it is respectful to not photograph while a prayer is being offered and I wondered if he joined in with the prayer himself. I do know that as a photographer I think it is important to separate myself enough to be a witness, but not so much as to lose sight of what is really going on. Its a tough balance for sure, but I know by watching how the greats do it--that it is important to capture the real moments and that is how we gain a better understanding. Photograph by Uncle Dick
One of the things I try to explain to my students is that an idea is very seldom ever had and executed without researching the possibilities. In journalism we call it working a picture. In art its the same thing. We work through an idea and let it develop--not simply illustrate it. By approaching work with the idea that you can always take it another step...you'll always have things to work on. It is frustrating hearing people say there is nothing to photograph around here, or that its boring here. Creative people should never feel this way. I joke around a lot saying thinks like give me a flashlight and a stairwell and I'll be able to make a photo. I think this attitude has helped me think through ideas and situations and get photos when no photos were seemingly there. Working out an idea. This series of weird little reflections is an idea I have to try with clients, but I need to work out some of the bugs. I really like the idea of video also with this and am really trying to work out the details of this. It may require a few late nights and some new mirrors, but I'll figure it out.--and by the way this was lit with a flashlight...but not in a stairwell. Photograph by Richard Sayer