TJ, please do keep sharing new pics! This is a wonderful forum to learn new techniques and unique situations. Is there anything else, besides a 'raincoat' that you can share as tips or suggestions? What is your preferred lens on these outings? What have you learned that has improved your images? What do you still wrestle with to improve that you just aren't satisfied with yet?
Kathi

Beautiful! Now, I'm looking forward to the next rainy day to try this myself. Just lovely...
Thanks.

What a great opportunity for you!! I have done a few informal weddings, and a few images that I make sure to get and ALWAYS receive great appreciation for capturing are the parents of the bride and groom during key moments. While the main photographer will be shooting the bride and groom through all the standard events (vows, first dance, toasts, etc), aim your lens at the key people watching. One of my now-standard favorites is getting the mother of the bride watching her daughter dance with her daddy with all the overwhelming emotions that must be running through her mind.

I was a guest at a wedding where there were 5 photographers all stationed around the dance floor during that pivotal, emotionally charged dance of father/daughter. Not one of the photographers thought to turn and get a shot of mom whose tears were streaming down her cheeks while she watched this tender moment. That story was lost!

So, be the extra eyes to look for "stories" happening all around. It will be a great complement to the standard images and will surely complete the full experience of the day for the bride & groom to treasure and may have not have been cognizant of at the time.
Have fun!

Hi, I'm thinking that it would depend on their knowledge of your work and the price. If you take pre-orders and they are unfamiliar with your style and quality, there would be a definite hesitation to purchase upfront.
I shoot high school theatre final dress rehearsal and sell discs with 75-100 of the best images. The first year or two were slow for orders, but for the past 5 (I shoot two shows a year for them), pre-orders have increased dramatically. I offer a discounted price if they place their order prior to opening night. This year I tried something new by setting up a display featuring some key shots/actors and took orders for prints. I had this set up at each of the 5 shows, and looks like this is a definite way to sell.
So, my experience shows that once they knew my work, I was able to build pre-order sales, and having the prints right in front of people in the joy of the event talking directly to/with the photograper, sales are more likely.
Good luck!

Hi Roger,
I can only assume you mean Arles, France... a wonderful place where I spent 2 weeks a few summer agos participating in a Provencal cooking school and visiting markets, lavender fields, goat farms, honey/beekeepers, vineyards, potters and even a milliner! Those, of course, were in between wandering the alley ways and Roman arhitecture of the city.
Wonderful pictures... even more wonderful memories!!

Knapp51,
A large portion of my work is done shooting middle and high school theatre productions in my area (for the past 8 years)with the same conditions of no flash. My primary lens of use is the 70-200 f/2.8 on a Nikon D700. The benefit I get as the show photographer is to do the final dress rehearsals and then I get free range of the theatre and stage area. What others are saying is quite true that lighting changes so having the dress rehearsals to learn when and where the lights/action will be helps me to anticipate the best settings. I typically shoot between shutter for high action scenes and then revert to aperture for those solo sections. Most shots are taken with 800-1200 ISO but some need the boost to 2000. If you're interested in what I get, my webpage has a sampling in the Image Gallery ... www.candidsbykathi.com

Have fun.
Kathi

Thanks, Designpro for today's post. While I do understand most of these concepts and procedures, reminders and refreshers are valuable. I tend to shoot in one mode for awhile and then have to reframe my thinking to recall the needed info for shooting new again. I have printed out your explanations to keep on hand. They will serve me well! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Ziiggykor, that's a very powerful statement... mind if I add it to my "quote wall" that I keep in my office? I'll certainly give you the credit.

My inspiration to learn more and delve deeper into photography began at a time in my life when I couldn't explain anything anymore (devastating divorce) and I needed to wrap my head around something that was strong and good and creative that didn't require words; I turned to my camera. It has provided my journey back to happy and productive living.

Hi. I did this as well after seeing two images from this viewpoint on display at a museum in NYC!! So you are thinking like a pro!! (Me, I just copied!)

Hi.
First, you're most welcome!
Second, your day 25 images are spot on to meet your criteria... pink and close-up! Although you were going for pink, I can't help but first be drawn to the eyes!
Third, may I know your name, or would you prefer to remain Bandgeek? Feel free to "PM" it if you wish to maintain your anonymity on this site. Totally understood and support your wishes on this. I'm a mom of a 20 year-old college student, aunt of 19 nieces and nephews, teacher of middle school students, and mentor to teenage girls - all of whom, I encourage to be very careful about posting personal information.

Just wanted to say goodnight and to let you all know what a special pleasure it was to spend this "day," . Photogrl, you have given us a gift in this challenge as it has brought this group of human beings closer... no gift could be greater to humanity.
Sleep well, and peaceful dreams of a happy tomorrow.

Wow, I've gone from laughing to near tears at the genuine stories you have all so graciously shared about yourselves. This has become such a lovely group of friends bonded by the commonality of a passion for pictures. And, after all, pictures are the way to maintain that we saw, we captured, we lived and here's our proof.

I wish I knew a faster way to share my journey, but need to first relay this particular story as it will certainly give some insight as well. I am a teacher. I teach middle school students, and I love it! And, I remind myself occasionally, that my middle school students apparently love me too! I have the privilege of mentoring one young lady who has been socked with all the lousy aspects of growing up, yet still remains committed to not screwing up. I told her about this project and she quickly gave me a list of the pictures I should include. Even now, my eyes well up and I feel humbled at her awareness and her gratitude for my time with her. Her list includes:
1) picture of people "because you interact with people all day long and always send them home with a smile glad they came to school today."
2) picture of flowers "because you are delicate and a sensitive woman"
3) picture of jewelry "because I think you have a sense of style"
4) "do you have a picture of a suitcase? because you love to travel and we love hearing about your adventures since we'll probably never go ourselves. You make us feel like we're there with you."
5) "that picture of 'coffee for two' that you took in Paris because it shows you and David and how loving you are to each other."
6) a picture of Charlie (my dog) "because you love animals and he just fills your life with so much happy!"
7) "what about a picture of soap or perfume, because you always smell so good and clean."
8) picture of green "because you have green paint, pictures, and fabric all over your house so you obviously like it and I think it helps you feel calm and peaceful."
9) picture of plants or your backyard "because you love plants and taking care of helping things grow. Like me... look how you've helped me grow."
10) picture of a pair of glasses "because you love to read and you're smart, and glasses always show smartness, so yea, glasses, for sure."
11) a picture of your spoon collection "because you love to cook and you told me collect wooden spoons from your trips, and hey, we're back at the first thing where I said you loved to travel!"

And, then, she smiled and said, "I thought you said this was going to be hard. This was easy to think of pictures to show you."

So with that, I dedicate her view and these additional interests...

I shoot theatre productions, and LOVE it!


Tulips and daisies are favorites


outdoor views, and time to sit and ponder are gifts

Hi Bandgeek,
Been a while, and by your posts, it looks like life is grabbing you by both ankles! Hope you're feeling better, and that your heart is able to feel some ease from your recent break up with Dustin. Keep looking forward, but don't run from the pain you feel. You hurt because you loved... no replacement for that.

As for photographs, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your kitten picture! Perfect... just look at the sharpness of each whisker. Wow!

I love Architechural images!! here are a couple of mine:[/quote]

Teri 0... are you new to our forum or have I just not noticed your gorgeous work! Wow... these structural images are perfect!!

Osuzzannah, these are wonderful! Maybe we can convince photogrl57 to choose this as a theme one day this year!!