I normally try to change things up with the locations I shoot at, but Trish really wanted to shoot at “that one place.” So we set it up. This is what happened.

Thanks Trish

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So Allie and I headed out to one of my favorite locations, Wilder Ranch. This place has just about everything you could want for a location shoot. In talking with Allie I learned that she is a singer/song writer and I wanted to incorporate that into the shoot. When she arrived she showed me this dress of hers that she got at a thrift store. I was getting an Emmylou Harris/Neko Case vibe so we ran with that.
You can also find them on my Facebook page HERE

I have a camera (err, well several).

When I’m shooting I get lost in a world of light and form. This is good.

Since going into the commercial realm I’ve had many outlets and some great subjects. All that shooting, all those click, click, clicks of the shutter have been a process. An evolution. Every time I pick up my camera I move farther along the path of realizing my own personal vision of the world and who I am behind the lens.

Over Christmas Becky and I were in Turlock and my soon to be nephew, Ian, and I were out playing on the farm. Well, he was playing and I was was watching. I wasn’t getting paid to shoot. No one had any expectations for the images. It was just me, my Nikon, a roll of Portra, and this little boy being himself.

Here’s a few of those shots from playing around.

This is my favorite, DIY light modifier. Bet you didn’t know a sock was -1 stop?

Actually this image was made after the large group shots. We knocked out the smaller group shots by the wharf and then moved to these boulders for the large group shot. We still had some time and so I asked for a volunteer. Little Em here climbed down and stood here for me while I snapped away.

Thanks so much to the Widman clan, it was a blast.

But as good as 2009 was 2010 holds even more promise. I’ve got several inquiries and a couple of consultations to set up for weddings this year, and a birthday party needing a photobooth on the schedule.

Speaking of photobooths, we brought in 2010 with an impromptu photobooth at Peter and Jana’s Roller Skating Capes and Bling NYE party.

All the images are up on Facebook, but Facebook wrecks images so I wanted to post a few here.

This is the opener, the guest of honor Ryan

What I love about the photobooth is it lets everyone get into the act. All night whole families came over and got what amounts to mini family portrait shoot. I would do 3 -4 shots of each group. One “normal” and then coach them to be a little more – uh not-so-stick-up-your-butt like. Which isn’t all that hard in this case considering the context (hello, capes AND bling) and who the party goers where.

Case in point, check out these sets:

Another thing I love about the photobooth is I have absolute control over the light. Place the subject, pose and compose. Super rad.

The more willing people are to get a little wacky the better the images – which is why this would be great at a wedding or a party with an open bar. Or in this case a party with my friends who are all just a little off anyway.

For you technique geeks I set up two SB 600s 8ft up on stands, with diffusers on the heads fired through shoot through umbrellas. They are at about a 45 degree angle to the backdrop. Triggered by an SB 800 on camera (hint:set it to — so it won’t ad to the exposure). They are at full power (didn’t complain a bit and I didn’t have a single misfire, you will want to give em a brake every 2 – 3 shots but you will need to talk and compose people anyway so it works out). I shot at 1/40 at 5.6 with a 17mm lens, hand held. The backdrop is a 10x seamless gaffer taped to the wall on one side and clamped to a light stand on the other.

But then, this year I got an email from Brit’s boyfriend telling me how he doesn’t have any money but he wants to gift a senior portrait shoot to his girlfriend. Oh and one more thing, she hates to have her picture taken.

Wow, ok great sign me up! Who wouldn’t jump at a chance to do a particular kind of shoot that they despise of a person who hates being photographed for almost no money.

But I’m a big softy so I booked the shoot.

We met just before the shoot and talked about how the shoot would work and what Brit was looking for blah blah blah.

So I did my standard thing. First we got the safe-lets-make-grandma-happy just like every other photographers work kind of shots. So of course Brit was uncomfortable and I was bored and the images looked, well, great by most standards but I hated them. They weren’t my style and that was just not acceptable.

So we switched wardrobes (well Brit did) and locations. I explained to Brit that now that we have the standard stuff done with we can play around and what ever we get is bonus. Right away she relaxed a bit. Then her boyfriend showed up and sparks flew.

This first shot is my go-to portrait/headshot set up. One speed light, hand held, working with the Sun, hard light.

Then we got her love interest involved ala American Gothic:

Same set up as the first image only going wide angle up close (something else I love).

I have no problem using props. I love to use old cameras to shoot with and if I can’t get ‘em working again they make great props.

So yeah, I learned two things.

First, don’t make assumptions about inquiries. Of all the horror stories other photographers tell about low budget shoots that are always a PITA it has yet to happen to me. Every time I choose to help someone out photography wise I’ve always been rewarded in the image department. It don’t pay the rent but it does feed the soul.

Second, just because other people manage to turn a certain kind of shoot into boring ass cliche images doesn’t mean I have to. Which means I’m not only open but stoked to shoot senior portraits.

Technical: two sb 600′s on stands camera left and right at 45 degree angles, one sb 800 on a stand pointed at the group, one sb 800 on camera as the master flash. all fired at about 1/4 power, ambient dropped 2 stops.