The posing trend.

When I shoot, either weddings, models, boudoir, kids or pretty much anything, I'm an advocate of capturing emotions.
You see, there's a trend to make people look perfect. Family members will stop a photographer to 'fix' the bride, to move the dress, to ask her to smile.
Truth is, the more people tell the bride or the groom what to do, the more confused they get.
They hired a photographer to make them look good, but their friends, family members or bystanders keep interrupting and giving them all sorts of advise. Most of it contradictory and confusing.
By the time we get to take a picture, the look in their faces is truly the look of confusion.
What happened with spontaneity?

Years ago, the trend was photojournalism. Although most people really didn't understand the concept 100%, there was a hunger for pictures that looked honest, non-posed, true to reality.

Hereby I ask:
What's of more value to people, A true emotion or a posed and daunted look?
I choose the first one.
Granted, a professional already thought of the basics of composition, light, technique and overall mood before he/she takes an image. But there's this element of intimacy that a couple has, that a true professional tries to bring out, instead of eliminating it with constant interruptions and posing. Some guidance is great. Telling people what to do every moment is not.

This is true even more with the flood of 'perfect' images that people pin in their pinterest walls, or gather through months of research.
People are so desperate to have those 'perfect' shots that they loose track of what matters the most:
Each couple is different. Their language and story is different. The photographer may not do the images you saw on pinterest. And... would you want to have the same images another 1500 photographers are doing on every wedding?
As photographers, we see the new trends and try to balance what couple's want with what we do.
The most amazing images I get from my weddings is when I have freedom to do what I feel like doing, just for that couple.

On the following image, the couple was getting ready for the 'official' image. They are not even looking at the camera.However, you can feel the emotion and excitement.

So here, some images that show true emotions, without been technically perfect. I value these more. And all were taken on the flight, just casually between other images one the list.

Love the true love these guys have in their eyes :)

 Often times, all it takes is to have the perfect setting. The rest just happens.

Why photographers need exclusivity. The Cousin saga.

A couple weeks ago, I shot a destination wedding. The place was amazing. A castle by a lake!!
I had quite an interesting experience there.  It's always so uncomfortable to have to ask somebody to please stop shooting over your shoulder, or just to move out of the scene.
Have you heard those horror stories, where the most important image from the shoot is lost?
Well, that didn't happen, but quite close!
See what happens when a cousin believes he's a pro-photographer...
Let's see who can figure out who is our dear Primo!

 Groom is ready to take his place down the isle, nice arch, stone and...Primo!

 We have father of the bride, Groom, Pastor, Bride, somehow DJ was also there and then...Primo!

 Primo is busy checking his images.

 What a lovely scenery in the background.

 Flower girl and Ring bearer, plus photo- relative.

 Some nice jacket and elbow.

 Primo didn't want to miss the shot.

 I bet his image looks awesome with me in it too :)

Primo also doubled as entertainer!

Al joking aside, these are some examples of why is important to keep things under control. Many Brides are now opting for electronic-free weddings due to this very reason. The number of images where all the guests are staring into their little electronic screens instead of looking at the newly weds is just breath taking. When your professional photographer has to continuously ask other members of the ceremony and guests to please move so he can get the shot, is just uncomfortable for everybody.
Our goal is to get you the best images, so help us and make sure somebody keeps an eye on all the uncles, cousins and friends who have a really nice camera and are so eager to become the next family pro.
Certainly, we can take charge and just ask the other people to stop. But then again, why ruin the most important day for a  relative if all could've been avoided?
Just my 2 cents :)

Going Guerrilla Style

From one of my Mini session calls in Facebook, I choose to work with a previous customer,
who not only is tough but also adventurous.
The idea was to start at sunrise. She actually had to be ready with hair and make up by sunrise...Ouch!
So we met at a coffee shop, she followed me to the previously scouted location, by a lake.

This is summer. full of bugs. I got ticks as I went through the woods to set up my lights. I guess when you have passion for something, you just don't care :)
It was hot, humid and we moved rather quick. All in all, we shoot for about 30- 40 minutes tops.
So, are you up for some of my Mini sessions? keep an eye on my FB page!

There's something about feathers...

I know, the angel wings have been done before. A LOT! But I couldn't resist and I had to give them my own spin!
Thinking about it, I can come up with several approaches, different than the much seen Lingerie brand.
I'll work on it. More to come soon!
Adrian

After your session, get the goodies!

After your session, get your images back and show them with pride!
Choose from a variety of options. Lay flat coffee table books ranging from 6x6 inches to 12x12. Square or rectangular. in 26, 38 or 50 pages. Accordion mini books, calendars, personalized CD's, prints, Canvases, the works! Because your images deserve the best presentation!
All done with true photographic paper and with the highest quality standards.
email me for more details!

Adrian

The outfit issue, or what to wear?

The answer is complex. It is complex as it's tricky. When clients ask me if I provide outfits, or what to bring,
they probably believe there's a right kind of outfit. But there's not. What you wear is a reflection of who you are.
So, It would not be fair for me to provide outfits. It would make everybody look exactly like the other 550 clients I had. And...who wants that?
People come to see me because I do something that nobody else does. But the big part of that is that my images are not cookie cutter, like they would be if I provided outfits. That leaves still a big chunk out there:
So what should I bring?
Well, that depends on many things. What's your personality? Who are the images for? Are you confident? I've done session with one outfit through the whole time. And with one pair of shoes. Not ideal but I can work with whatever you have, however, I would ask you this:
When you go out, say on a very important event, maybe a wedding. You pick the perfect outfit. Spend days browsing on dresses, and finding matching shoes. Maybe some jewelry. You do this in an effort to find something in which you just feel gorgeous. Then you make an appointment for hair and make up, right?
Boudoir is pretty much the same. With on little caveat: The images might be intended to make you gorgeous on somebody else's eyes. Find out his/ her preferences!
And usually, guys and girls have different approaches to beauty and sexy standards.

Let me share some images. Check them out and see by yourself. What works best for you? simple? elaborated? is it worth it getting new stuff?
A boudoir session is the perfect excuse to do some shopping!

So, which one is more "you"?  bright color? matching set? dark? conservative? wild? No, there's not a 'right' kind of outfit. They're just different, as every person is.

A couple of things though,

• Please bring matching shoes for each outfit.
• Make sure all outfits are ironed.
• Remove tags from all of the outfits.
• Clean shoe's soles.
• If you bring garters, make sure you bring stockings and know how to attach them.
• Make mental notes of which outfits you like more and which less.
• Try to bring an average of 5 outfits per hr of session.
• I tend to favor matching outfits. But that's just me. I consider a matching outfit to be one with the same colors and fabric on both parts of it. Close enough is just close enough. However, it's your session and we'll do it YOUR way! :)
• Push yourself out of your shell. This is a once in a lifetime experience. So what kind of images are you creating? cute or mind blowing?

Adrian

What do you mean by a couple's session?

I'm not exactly sure how it started. I guess I had a client who had a very special request, and then, from there, it just took off.
The truth is, a couple's session is a very intimate thing. It shows the most basic connection between a man and a woman. It's about the electricity that generates between them. I'm lucky enough to do quite a bit of these. These images are just a tease.
You'll get the idea. Yes, this lovely couple gave permission to post their images. They're just so cute together!

 Definitely not the kind of session for the shy or square. But a lot of fun. My clients make an event from it, sometimes driving from out of town and planning the whole day around it.
The session, a nice candle light dinner afterwards, maybe dancing and a night without the kids. What's not to like?

 The best way to rekindle the relationship and remember why they got together in the first place.
Plus, getting a book with their images always makes for awesome memories and lots of conversation :)

 

 Are you wild enough? Bring your loved one and have an absolute blast.

So much, that these two are coming back for seconds :)