Couple portrait session....

Shot a fun couple portrait session this afternoon (thanks Emily and Andy!). It became a mini tour of Long Beach. We started at the Pike and worked our way to the lighthouse. It was a good session and I really tried to work the environment into the pics. This is a nice snap at the base of the ferris wheel at the Pike. I had to shoot quickly while we were down there because we were starting to get funny looks from the security guards (what can you do?).

I was wearing my jetpack (my Lowepro backpack with light stand and umbrella poking out). I set up the light pretty quickly (Nikon strobe popping full blast into a silver umbrella) and took about half a dozen shots trying to overpower the ambient. The final exposure was a little under exposed because the strobes couldn't pop enough light but it was easy to correct in post.

It was a fun time and a great way to spend an afternoon.

Gun for hire...

It's wedding season and this summer I've been hired as a second shooter for several great photographers. I learn a bit from each one and it is always interesting for me to see their different styles. Today, I shot with my friends and colleagues Taso and Annie. Annie was one of my first photography mentors and taught me how to print in BW as well as some of the nuances involved in documentary photography.

Here are some shots from the event tonight....it's late and I don't have all my memory cards back yet, but I liked this short sequence. Here, the bride and groom are watching as the groomsmen and bridesmaids make their entrance into the reception. As you can see, they're having a great time watching their friends dance and strut down the isle. Usually, you don't get this point of view, since the primary shooter is going to shoot them coming down the isle. But as a #2 I have the freedom to roam and grab fun moments like this.