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Some photographers like cloud cover, because of the soft and natural light-box effect created by the sky. And while this does indeed work for many of my portrait shoots, I’m just not a fan of cloudy skies for engagement photos. So even though my clients were all dressed up and ready to shoot, I suggested postponing until clearer skies prevailed. They agreed and we set a new shoot date of February 4th. Of course, when we set the date we had no idea this would be the day Denver gets clobbered with a record breaking snowstorm!

When I woke Friday morning to over a foot of snow on the ground, I was worried that I’d have to reschedule my client’s engagement shoot… again! My clients had also started texting me, wondering what the plan was and if the shoot was still on. Realizing that this kind of epic snow storm creates a once in a lifetime photoshoot opportunity, I quickly texted my clients back and told them that we had to shoot – because if we didn’t – I knew we would regret it later.

So with some portable lights and an assistant in tow, we all headed out in to the snowy landscape of the Five Points and Curtis Park neighborhoods. It was a cold start and everyone was moving a little slow at the beginning, but we quickly worked into a rhythm. The heavy snowfall and blowing winds kept my couple clients close to stay warm, which only enhanced the intimate nature of the shoot. Their energy was incredibly infectious which kept us all moving through the blustering winter gale.

Although the idea of setting up a photoshoot in the middle of a blizzard may be intimidating to some, I must say that pushing through the rough conditions (having adventurous clients also helped!) really paid off. Although everyone was cold and wet after 90-minutes plodding about in the snow, we were able to capture some truly unique moments that I’m sure my clients will cherish for a long time to come. So don’t be afraid so seize the moment and shoot in the harsh weather mother nature throws your way – you just never know what kind of great photos you might get!

See some of Maggie and Austin’s engagement photos below…

From now on you will be able to access my website through both the original akphotodenver.com domain, and the new akphoto.com domain. Typing either into the address bar of your browser will get you here! All of my email addresses will continue to work, but I will slowly be moving clients to my new akphoto.com contact address.

Thanks!

I truly can’t wait for the update to come for Canon mounts – even though we have to wait a few months longer than the Nikon boys. A translated spec sheet is provided below (credit Canon Rumors):

AT-X 116 PRO DX Ⅱ

11 ~ 16mm F2.8 (IF) ASPHERICAL
Retail Price: ¥ 90,000 (tax not included with hood)
Product photography is Nikon mount specification.
Nikon digital (APS-C)
Will be released in late March 2012.
Canon digital (APS-C)
Will be released in late July 2012.
Tokina at B&H

The newly developed SD-M (Silent Drive-Module)
Using high-quiet DC motor, sealed by the shape and integral gear reducer motor, quiet to significantly enhanced.

GMR sensor (magnetic sensor Precision)
AT-X 16-28 F2.8 PRO FX like, AT-X 116 PRO DX II to the GMR sensor mounted directly under the high-resolution focus. Focus control enables precise than the rotation detection sensor is used as a normal AF sensor control, and succeeded in accelerating the speed AF as a result.

Adoption of new coating
AT is well received generally taken to improve the multi-coating as well as X 116 PRO DX has a more smooth gradation of the shadows.

Achieved by adopting high-dimensional depiction of ultra-low dispersion glass and aspherical lens
P-aspheric lens placed in front of the group MO. Together with molded glass aspherical lens placed in the rear lens group which, while correcting the distortion, we are ideally each aberration correction. In addition, SD very close to fluorite (ultra low dispersion) glass, “FK03″ by adopting two, we aim to eliminate chromatic aberration.

Compact and good operability
The one-touch focus clutch, AF-MF transition is simply sliding the focus ring to the front side. Feeling when manual focus, reasonable torque in the sense focus ring allows precise focusing.

While a large aperture zoom F2.8, achieve a minimum focusing distance 0.3m. Effective in taking advantage of the change in perspective drawing.

In addition, the filter size is 77mm. Frequent use C-PL Filter also available.

Focal length: 11 ~ 16mm
Filter Size: 77mm
Brightness: F2.8
Minimum aperture: F22
Lens Construction: 13 images in 11 groups
Greatest dimension: 84.0mm
Coating: Multilayer coating
Angle of view: 104 ° to 82 ° (with Nikon)
Minimum focusing distance: 0.3m
Macro maximum magnification: 1:11.6
Zoom mode: Rotating zoom
Number of aperture blades: Nine
Greatest dimension: 84.0mm
Full-length: 89.2mm
Weight: 550g
Accessories: Flower-shaped bayonet hood (BH-77A)
Compatible Mount: Nikon digital (APS-C) :4961607-634349
Canon digital (APS-C) :4961607-634356

Headshot Photo Gallery
Family Portrait Photo Gallery

The headshot gallery focuses primarily on pose photography, like senior photos, model and actor headshots, and corporate headshots that are used for business and marketing. The family portrait gallery is reserved for family photos, child portrais, and infant photography. In the near future I’ll likely be adding a commercial gallery as well, to showcase recent photos that were shot on a contract basis for commercial use.

So when a call for “heashots” rolls in – I always pry a little further and ask, “What kind of headshot do you need? Will these appear on a business card? A website? Or both?” And every now and then my questions are answered with nothing – just dead silence. I can tell the caller has been caught totally off guard by my questions, and has no idea how to respond. I break the dead air by saying, “let me guess… you need photos for online dating sites, right?” And I always get the same surprised reaction – “how did you know?!?!”

This ain’t my first rodeo, kids.

That’s Right – It’s Trendy!

In recent years online dating has made huge inroads into mainstream culture. I hate to sound cliche, but the saying “everybody’s doing it” certainly applies. Eharmony – just one of many dating websites out there – claims to be responsible for 2% of all marriages in America, which equates to a whopping 236 marriages… every day! When you add in other sites like Match.com, Chemistry.com, and bulletin boards like Craigslist and Backpage, you can see that online dating has become a widely accepted way of finding a mate.

“Hi – I’m single!”
Don’t be this girl.

With so many people turning to the internet to find that special someone, your time to capture your potential partner’s attention is more limited than ever. Your personal profile is what speaks about who you are, and is what personifies your online presence. The most important visual on your profile is, of course, that single profile photo. Gone are the days of the self-shot photo in the bathroom mirror, sucking in your stomach and making “sexy” smirk faces with puckered lips. That just doesn’t cut it. Nor does the four year old photo of you and your ex sipping martinis, with your ex conveniently cropped out of the shot.

People who are serious about finding a significant other online want to know their future catch is serious as well, and your photos must convey that seriousness. At the same time they must not be too “slick”, but convey a warm, friendly, and real persona – and most importantly – be recent and accurate. Nothing is worse than showing up on that first date to find some one you don’t recognize, because their profile photos where taken during a Hawaiian vacation… in 1994!!!

Be Real, Be You!

So, when Steve called me looking for “headshots”, I quickly got down to business and discovered that what he really wanted was photos for his online dating profile. Steve had recently reentered the dating pool and was quickly becoming intimidated, and even a little discouraged, by the photos he found posted on the profiles of the fairer sex. “These women clearly have professional photos taken!” he lamented. Yes, they do, but that’s no reason to fear – and after a brief consultation with Steve I assured him that we’d have him up and running in no time with high quality portraits.

In my opinion, the goal of your profile photo is to convey as much information as possible with imagery. Let’s face it, we are an A.D.D. society; our attention spans are on the order of seconds, and asking some one to read paragraphs upon paragraphs of information with headers “About Me”, “Hobbies”, and “Favorite TV Shows”, is more than the average internet dater can handle at first brush. So show that information! Get them hooked on your photos so they’ll spend more time digging into your details!

Candid photos are a great way
to spice up your dating profile!

With Steve being an outdoursy individual (he loves hiking, camping, hunting and fishing), it was a quick and easy decision to shoot him outside. This way, his interests would be conveyed immediately to anyone visiting his profile. By using a scenic location such as Commons Park near downtown Denver, and coordinating his attire to include sweaters and vests, I was able to show that Steve is a confident individual who is not only comfortable, but happy being outside surrounded by nature.

Conveying real personality in imagery can be a challenge for some photographers; it requires a good rapport with your client, and the ability to capture natural expressions while not forcing awkward poses. Posed shots can come across as too “planned” for a dating portfolio, and might scare off some visitors to your profile! I avoid this problem by really getting to know my clients – chatting with them about their hobbies and interests, and paying close attention to the message they want to convey. Since Steve has a strong connection with dogs, it was a no-brainer for me to snap some casual shots of him with his Golden Retriever. Throw in some studio portraits for good measure, and we were good to go! See a sample gallery of Steve’s dating photos at the bottom of this article.

Don’t Get Too Touchy

In closing I’ll share just one last bit of advice… don’t do too much “photoshopping” or retouching to your profile photos! Remember, your images are supposed to show you! A competent photographer should be able to capture you at your most flattering, being expressive and real, without the need for excessive editing. Overly edited photos are obvious, and only make visitors skeptical about your true appearance.

So don’t be afraid to get online to see what all the buzz is with this internet dating business. Get some good photos and get going, you never know who may be waiting for you out there!

These three new portfolio galleries are already live and can be found by using my main menu bar, or the links below:

I think this is a much better way to demonstrate my services and photo style. And I will be updating these galleries regularly as I continue to photograph events, parties and concerts throughout Denver and all of Colorado.

After first being contacted by JetLinx (who I must say are a total pleasure to work with) and discussing some concepts they had in mind for their Christmas card photo, I began
visualizing my approach to the shoot, from lighting to posing of the JetLinx personnel. The goal of the photo was to feature 9 members of their Denver team in their Member Lounge, since it is a known location to many of their clients. After seeing a photo of the lounge, I knew I would have limited space to work with, and began planning the difficult task of lighting everyone evenly.

Planning, when it comes to photography, should be the number one priority of any photographer who considers taking on clients and working in a professional capacity. Trying to “wing it” or “learn as you go” in the field is no way to complete a project. It is unprofessional, and a waste of your client’s time. What follows is the best photography advice I have ever received, and which I am always eager to share with any aspiring photographer:

A failure to plan, is a plan to fail.

With this in mind, I developed a specific blueprint for JetLinx’s photo, and that was to create a composite image that would have every staff member properly and evenly exposed. A composite, for those who may be new to digital imaging, is a single image that is comprised of separate exposures. This was the most efficient approach that I could conceive to illuminate a large group in a small space, while keeping my lights hidden from the camera’s field of view.

Composite :: Image #1

To achieve this, I decided to take multiple exposures with separate groups of people to be able to light them all evenly. To start, I setup my camera on a tripod that was fixed firmly in a static position. This would help me layer images later in post, without worrying too much about ghosting artifacts or alignment. I then oriented the entire JetLinx Denver team in way where they all were clearly visible. See the image at left for the first image, or base layer of my composite. As you can see, the executives in the foreground are evenly lit, but some of the staff farther in the frame fall into shadows.

The orange light on the ceiling was a little touch of color I decided to add in for balance. I created this simply by aiming a gelled speedlight directly at the ceiling.

Composite :: Image #2

After getting a solid set of shots with my foreground subjects properly exposed, I had the executives stand aside so I could reorient my lights and shoot those who were situated farther back in the frame. While moving my lights, I set pennies at the feet of each team member, so I could reposition everyone in their original locations without worry. The image at right shows the second layer of my composite, with the rearmost subjects now properly exposed. With a solid set of exposures for each group, I was comfortable knowing that I could create the final composite through post processing.

Once sorting and calibration of my favorite shots in Lightroom was complete, I exported them into layers in Photoshop to build the composite. The entire group shot (#1) was set as my base layer, with the shot of the background group (#2) imported as my top layer. I then used carefully defined masks to bring out the foreground executives from the bottom layer. After a few touch-ups here and there to remove an “Exit” sign (far left), and a funky shadow on one of the window shades (far right), the final composite was ready for client review:

JetLinx 2011 Christmas Card Photo :: The Final Composite of Two Exposures

After applying their company logo and sending the image off to print, the 2011 JetLinx Christmas card project was officially a wrap. I must say this was one of the more fulfilling shoots I’ve done in recent weeks; being able to see a project through from conception to completion without any hiccups was extremely satisfying. I guess my planning paid off. I also have to tip my hat to the entire JetLinx team, who were fun and easy going from beginning to end. Having fun during a shoot always makes a photographer’s job a little easier.

I hope sharing this story helps remove some of the mystique from composite photography, and helps some of you tackle your own composite projects. Have a Merry Christmas!

Samples of my portfolio submission can be seen below. The entire gallery is available here. If you are interested in purchasing any of these images as prints, please let me know.

Official Red Rocks Photography Contest Website
Red Rocks Facebook Page Announcement

D.L. Adams 2011
Holiday Cookbook Cover

While D. L. Adams has, in years past, used custom artwork for their cookbook cover, this year they decided to employ dramatic imagery of some of the recipes contained within the cookbook’s pages. The shoot ended up being quite a production that ultimately required the collaborative efforts of a set designer, chef (to make the dishes on display), a location host for the setting, and myself as photographer.

To get the foreground place setting and hors d’oeuvres evenly lit, while also getting the streamers suspended in the background illuminated properly, I employed a combination of five strobes and monolights, some gels, a shoot-through umbrella, a reflector, and a snoot. While photographing food can certainly be complex from a lighting standpoint, I must say that I was thrilled with the end result (as was the client).

Doing this shoot really worked up my appetite… and I can’t wait for my copy of the cookbook to see the recipes inside!