Tag Archives: New York City

Lighting, aka flash photography

May 25, 2010 – 1:52 pm

I’m a bookworm. Always have been.  I learn by reading…through osmosis, as my other used to say.  While others learn by trial and error, I learn by soaking the pages of book into my brain. There’s always a book on my bedside table, always something to read in the bathroom, magazines in the kitchen, literature in the living room.  Primarily though, at every corner of this house there lies a photography book.  Whether inspirational, directional or just a plain manual, photography books are a plenty in this household.  Ones that seem to haunt follow me are ones on flash. UGH! Flash! Flash has always been a challenge for me.  A necessary evil that I really had to embrace and learn to love.

Yesterday that changed.  My friend and fellow photographer, April, and I traveled to New York City for Neil Van Niekerk’s lighting workshop. And after yesterday, I adore my flash and was amazed by the results I was getting straight out of my camera.  So, while this blogpost is totally techie, check it!

First up…this one’s for my sis. She loves NYC. :)

Look Ma! No photoshop! All of these images are straight out of the camera.  The only thing I did to them was size them for the web.

The awesome part about yesterday was that we had various examples of lighting to work with. Our morning light was foggie and bright and perfect.  It was ever so hard for me not to just turn the flash off and work with the perfectly evenly lit palette I had in front of me. But still, these are the results of the morning light.  For all my photog friends, these are done with a 5D Mark II and a 580EXii off camera, both on manual and the flash at full power.  Super simple.

Our models, Precious Muir and Catherine were gorgeous!

As the afternoon sun started to set, we went back outside to shoot.  These were done with the 5D Mark ii, 580 EXii off camera with a softbox attached.  Camera set to manual, flash set to TTL at full power.

Ever the rebel, though, at this point I turned off my flash and captured my favorite…sweet light.

In the far left picture you’ll notice April working her magic :)

Then we went inside to play with video lights and that yucky tungsten lighting that as wedding photographers we are blessed to work with at every wedding.

Then, probably my favorite segment of the workshop…working outside, near darkness.  These are all done with the 5D Mark II, 580 EXii off camera attached to a softbox, both on manual.

And finally, this one’s also for my sister.  One hand in the air for the big city…

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Times Square, New York City | Beth and Justin: Married!

February 3, 2010 – 6:55 pm

Remember when I went to NYC to shoot a wedding for TLC? Well, now that it’s all said and done, I can finally show more pictures :) Let’s just start with WOW! :) It was such an amazingly, humbling experience to have been a part of such a fantastically crazy day.  And at the end of the day, Lauri and I walked away knowing two fantastic couples and celebrating in their wedding day.

Beth and Justin were married at Times Square.  Anyone who has ever been knows the vibe and exhilaration that goes along with this iconic New York City location.  Now…add a wedding.

Beth is an actress. And oh.my.goodness is she AMAZING and GORGEOUS :)

Justin…equally as fabulous and wonderful :)

I wish we would have had more time with everyone.  I seriously could have made fast friends with all of these ladies.

The men…ready for biznas…

The most enthusiastic processional…EVAH! :)

Let’s discuss how AMAZING this image would be enlarged.  It totally captures the day. Totally.

Right after getting married…

NYC’s finest :)

Lauri’s view…

My view…

The Lyceum Theater.  1. Beth + Actress = Theater 2. Scenes from one of the Spiderman movies was filmed here.

Gotta love cabbies!

Beth and Justin…thank you for an experience I will not soon forget :)

To see tons more from their wedding day, CLICK TO SEE THEIR SLIDESHOW.

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Empire State Building Wedding: Carolina and Ramon

November 25, 2009 – 9:39 pm

As 2009 draws to an end and we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, I can’t help but feel extremely blessed and grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing this year.  It’s been an incredible ride that I never imagined myself on.

I still remember the afternoon that I received Kenny’s call asking if I would want to photograph two weddings for TLC in New York City for a new show that they’re premiering next month.  I nearly crawled out of my skin with excitement and as the day drew closer, nervousness; Not only would I be shooting a wedding while being filmed for national television, I would be in an extremely powerful city photographing a couple whom I’d never met.  However, as soon as I composed myself I knew that there was one person I HAD to take with me…my friend and fellow photog, Lauri.  She and I would conquer this wedding together and totally knock socks off. And that’s exactly what we did :) Carolina and Ramon were nothing short of amazing and 10 seconds after being in their presence I felt at home and as if I had known them forever.  Lauri and I became their friends, fast, and went along for the crazy ride dubbed their wedding day as friends with fancy cameras, not photographers.  The day, despite its rapid pace and craziness, was amazing and truly a wedding that none of us will forget.

The day started at the Millennium Hotel, Broadway where Carolina and her daughter got ready.

The BEST Maid of Honor.  EVER. :)

Not to mention, one of the most gorgeous ones :)


The Empire State Building is one of NYC’s icons and Carolina and Ramon were married on the 55th floor.

Ramon eagerly awaiting his bride…

Despite the cameras rollin’ right in their faces, they did a stellar job of focusing on each other as they said their vows…

The new family :)

So before having to head out to wedding number two scheduled 15 minutes later, Lauri and I snapped the quickest bridal portraits ever…


Carolina and Ramon…it was an absolute pleasure and honor :)

To see how crazy fun a wedding in New York City is, make sure to check out their SLIDESHOW.

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Married in Manhattan: New York City | A ridiculously enormous sneak peek

October 20, 2009 – 2:58 pm

This morning I woke up with the most surreal feeling…as if yesterday didn’t happen.  And then I walked downstairs and turned on my computer. And smiled a very large, head swallowing smile.

It all started about two weeks ago when one of my ultra-fabulous grooms for next year, Kenny, called me while I was on my way to the grocery store.  He described a new series on TLC that will showcase couples as they marry at different iconic locations throughout New York City. Then he asked if I wanted to be a part of it.  I nearly dropped the phone and simply replied, “uhhh, yeah.” I know…I know…super suave.  After hanging up with Kenny, parking the car at the grocery store and sitting there for a minute, I completely lost it with excitement.  Ever the doubter in all good things, I kept my mouth shut so as to not jinx this crazy exciting event about to take place.  Those of you that know me know that I am the absolute worst at keeping secrets…especially when they are of the fabulously juicy nature.  But I did (well, for the most part :) ).

Yesterday was the day.  The ever fab, Lauri and I traveled to New York City for the taping of the wedding ceremony of Carolina and Ramon, who were married at the Empire State Building, and Beth and Justin, who were married at Times Square. At the start of Carolina and Ramon’s ceremony, one of the members of the camera crew asked me if my hair was how I wanted it and that’s when it hit me.  Holy Crap! I’m going to be on television! And after a split second, I regained my composure, sucked in my belly and got down to business. The show will air sometime in December and of course, I’ll be letting everyone know so that you can watch Lauri and I on television — oh, yeah, and the AMAZING couples that we had the pleasure of working with. :)

I cannot thank Kenny, TLC, Nancy Glass Productions and Ultimate Weddings enough for yesterday’s opportunity. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect my photography venture to take me this far.

Here’s a crazy sneak peek of what was shot yesterday and what’s to come in blog showcasing… Much love!

Carolina and Ramon’s wedding ceremony on the 55th floor of the Empire State Building.

And before rushing off to wedding number 2 of the day, Lauri and I had literally seven minutes to shoot bridal formals for Carolina and Ramon.

The beautiful Carolina who got ready for her big day at the Millennium Hotel Broadway.

Naturally when you think of New York City one of the first images that pops into your head is Times Square. Beth and Justin married there.

The gorgeous Lyceum Theater…which coincidentally has it’s very own scene in one of the Spiderman movies. I forget which one though. I absolutely ADORE this picture…the car zooming by, the random New Yorker, the fact that Beth is involved in theater…just LOVE it :)

Another favorite :)

And the gorgeous Beth…

And here’s one of Lauri and I…totally lookin’ beat but totally happy and proud of ourselves for rockin’ New York City! Thanks, Lauri!

 

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