Once you buy a nice camera all sorts of things can happen to you. When I purchased mine on a very expensive whim I never thought it would already have paid for itself!
I love going to weddings, they always make me want to settle down, hitch someone to this ole' wagon (aka myself...) and become a real housewife of Oklahoma or something, but did I ever think I would be doing wedding photography and getting paid for it!? Well... no. Do I love doing it? While I will neither answer in the affirmative or the negative, I will admit that it is slightly addicting.
I just shot my friend, and now cousin-in-laws' wedding two weekends ago and it was a blast! The wedding party was so fun, the theme "the perfect pair," was executed flawlessly and it is obvious that they both are really in love.
While I'm trying to maintain a certain level of humility in my
photography since I'm a novice, I do some kick ass work... go ahead and
see for yourself! I've added what I think are some mildly helpful hints too.
1. Start cropping before you hit the computer, really be aware of how you are framing any subject
2. Use guiding lines in your picture. See how the bridesmaids hand leads the eye right to the bride?! That's not on accident people.
3. While this is not the angle for every bride, this shot is an interesting perspective and allows the viewer to catch great details of the dress.
4. Capture every dramatic moment! Here all the bridesmaids were offering the bride all sorts of advice on hair and make up. As a photographer always be snapping pics, even if you don't think it's relative- the unplanned pictures can be the best.
5. Do not be afraid to move around! When you're on location in the heat of things, make sure that you're taking pictures right on the front lines! All those annoying relatives might be mad that you're in their shot, but hey- it's your job to get the good pics... not theirs.
6. Don't hesitate to get up close and personal shots. I can say this easily, because this is a shot of my sister (who was a bridesmaid)... but for real, people let photographers do whatever we want, even if it's get in their face.
7. When taking posed portraits, phyiscally move your subjects. Sometimes it's hard to explain what hand you want to go where, so just go ahead and move their hand for them... trust me, they'll trust you and you'll look like you know what you're doing.
8. Be creative! I thought of this shot when I took couple pictures for some friends of mine and absolutely love it. Maybe it's not for everyone, but I like to think it's pretty cute and creative.
9. If the shoe fits, have the bridal party get crazy and fun! Here we see the classic "I want my bouquet back" shot... not sure if I saw this somewhere or thought of it myself... but I more than encourage this kind of behavior with every wedding party I work with.
Unlike my two college friends (Shar and Alicia) I didn't land a sweet career after graduation, that let me blog at work, a probable cause for why I don't blog quite as often.
However, akin to many recent graduates who have less than ideal jobs (for they are not careers), I am adjusting to the "real" world. I say "real" world because it kind of really sucks, so deep down nestled inside my inner most hopes and dreams, I hope beyond hope, that this isn't all there is. There is so much to worry about as an adult! Everyone told me that college would be the best four years of my life, what nobody told me is that I should stay in it forever, because the "real" world is about as much fun as a pet rock.
On the flip side I am grateful for all that I do have, being born in America I kinda won the "birth lottery" (as my sister likes to call it). Our standard of living is pretty high, even for lower middle class tyros like myself.
**** Side note**** In an effort to prepare for the GRE, aka the test to get into grad school, I have been studying my vocab. Don't know what tyro means?!?! it's a synonynm for novice or noobie/newb****
Despite my gratitude and appreciation for this impressively impulsive and consumer driven country, my lack luster job and garrulous {means excessively talkative} family, there are a few things I'd like to share about my ambiguous reality of living in the "real" world.
1. No one gives a hoot or a holler about you... for real.
2. You will inherently start caring more about taxes and the government once you see how much money they really take from you.
3. Everyone wants your money!!!
4. People want to cut you up, demean you and, eat you like kentucky fried chicken during Fat Tuesday... just because they can.
5. The grace period for students loan is not even close to being long enough
6. People expect you to wake up at a decent hour and be happy about it (this one is still challenging for me)
7. Societal norms... there are so many!
8. Having tact is like having a concelead weapon... not everyone has one, you know it's always there... and it protects you from wandering weirdos and casual acquaintance psychos.
Want to get the deets on what exactly I've been doing, check out my youtube video, you'll probably laugh.
