Let’s Help Each Other Get Better

Hey y’all. As I said in my video today I wanted to put up 5 pictures that give you an example of what kind of work I am capable of. I don’t know that these are my five best pictures, since my opinion on that changes pretty regularly. Well that and I hope my 5 best pictures are still ahead of me lol. But these are 5 pictures chosen within 60 seconds of opening my portfolio.

I’m not doing this to show off. I really don’t care much for attention. But I am a firm believer that if someone offers to teach you photography that you should look at their work and and feel like they can help you take the next step in your artistic journey. If you don’t see photographs you like, that person probably isn’t the teacher for you. If at a minimum you don’t see them employing techniques you want to learn they certainly aren’t the teacher for you.

You could go by their resume. I mean I’ve shot 17 national magazine covers. I’ve shot for Vera Wang, Lucky Jeans and Target to name a few. I’ve shot over 500 weddings and I have more than 500 five star reviews for doing those weddings. I’ve had work shown in the National Portrait Gallery and in international museums. I could go on and on, but honestly all of this is just words. We work in a visual medium and my work should be able to do the talking shouldn’t it?

I’d tell you to look at someones portfolio and make a decision. Take 20-30 minutes. For me though while it’s fair to say I can hide my light under a bushel, I don’t lack confidence in the quality of my talent. I know what I’m capable of so I’m going to show you 5 pictures and you are going to be down with it or not.

Fair warning there is some nudity though nothing graphic.

Shot this one across a lake against a moving target.

I figured at least one wedding picture is required. I’m about 300 yards out on this I think, and the boat is moving pretty fast. Got it on the first try. Other than the stuff that happens when I import to photoshop (color correction, a little boost to clarity and vibrance) there is no edit on this picture. So I feel like this picture alone gives me bonafides to teach you wedding photography.

But to add to it, I’ve shot more than 500 weddings. I have more than 500 five star reviews. I’ve had 3 different companies reach The Knot’s Hall of Fame. Oh and 90% of my wedding couples get their pictures within 48 hours of their wedding.

Not their sneak peaks, their full wedding gallery.

If you are a wedding photographer and that doesn’t impress you nothing I ever say will impress you.

Fantastic lighting if I do say so myself

This is a pretty ordinary picture, except for a few things. Look at how we light her face and upper body. Look at how not a drop of light hits that railing. Look at how we didn’t get any reflection from the water. Look at the fact that the sky is blue, so I exposed for my background and my subject.

Also of note the sun is just overhead, camera left.

The thing I love about this picture is that it looks simple, but any photographer knows you gotta know what you are doing to get to this result. Making the complicated look simple is a skill worth learning.

This is, most of the time, absolutely one of my favorite captures.

About once a year I do something with colored light just to stretch myself a bit and this is the result.

These two pictures both illustrate a control of key, fill and rim light. If you don’t know those terms then I think it’s clear I can teach you something. I’d boil it down to every light source goes exactly where it’s supposed to, and no where else. Both of these pictures use at least three lights and yet create no spill.

This seems the appropriate place to blow my own horn so I’ll tell you I have the equipment and experience to light anything. If you can show me a picture I can make it, and if you can describe it to me I can make it. And I’m happy to teach you how to make it.

I think even 20 years from now this will be one fo the 5 best pictures I’ve ever taken.

This is my last example and I’d consider this a masterwork for me. I love how the first time you see this picture your mind has to sort out what it is you are seeing. I love the texture of the picture and how even the wrinkles on the surface of the table give it grab. Those are intentional by the way, I wanted those to add a little grit because it felt to clean otherwise.

I love the way so many little details are organized here, like we shaped the hair so it looks like there is a head there looking into the frame. I strongly believe in every instance details are what take a picture from good to great.

Also there is no spill in this picture. Every ounce of light here is here because I put it there and it is exactly where I want it to be.

I also love the edit here, this is the only one of these I did anything to in Lightroom/Photoshop. I removed a number of tattoos because they didn’t fit the feel of the picture.

You don’t have to love this picture. But if you look at this picture and don’t think i can teach you something then I’m just not your jam. Also if you look at this picture and don’t feel something you are a soulless machine sent back in time by Skynet to ensure the robots take over. I’m not judging you tho…