The Life That Happens Outside Of Your 4 Inch Touchscreen June 10, 2013

I am a proud Gen-Xer. I grew up learning how to play Zork on my TRS-80, and I would go over to my friend Michael’s house to play the better games on his Apple iiE.

I’ll even go so far as to say I’m an outright tech geek. My idea of an awesome week’s vacation would be going to CES in Vegas (although my wife doesn’t see eye to eye with me on that one).

I love tech, and while I may not run right out and get every piece that rolls down the pike (I’m looking at you Google Glass), I celebrate the catalog daily.

With that being said, I also hate tech. I hate that it’s changed our life in ways that are glaringly obvious daily, and in ways we haven’t even comprehended yet. In short, technology has come a long way in a VERY short amount of time, and I don’t think we mere mortals are fully equipped to handle that which we invented from dreams. CBS Sunday Morning actually did a fantastic piece on this just yesterday morning.

You may have heard recently about the ENTIRE photography staff of the Chicago Sun-Times being laid off in favor of teaching their reporters the finer points of iPhone Photography. I won’t even get into how ridiculous that is. I would have preferred the owner(s) to just come out and say “digital is killing us and while we saw this coming years ago, we did nothing, so we offer you these photographers as our sacrifice since our smart phones have this awesome app which allows us to change all our pictures to black and white.”

This got me thinking about weddings and other events we document every year. No doubt you’ve seen countless pictures of what we assume is a very happy bride and groom amid a sea of iPhone screens. Brings a tear to your eye just thinking about it, right? Recently, even those waiting for the new Pope to emerge mostly saw the event through the people holding up THEIR phones and tablets in front of them.

The newest fad which I highly endorse at events like these are called “Unplugged <insert name of lifecycle event here>”. It’s where you’re asked to “virtually” leave your smartphone at the door during all the important parts of the day.

“BLASPHEMY!” you cry out. “I want the world to see real time how happy you are…even if they really can’t see from my picture how happy you are!”

But it’s not blasphemy, and I’m going to tell you why.

Because when you’re doing that, you’re not attending the event as much as you’re reporting it, or even corresponding for it. But the question really becomes…for whom? (Unless you actually happen to be the brand new social columnist for the Chicago Sun Times with a bitchin’ new smartphone.)

Let’s walk through the lifecycle of a picture you take at a wedding:

7:30pm – The image you’ve taken of the officially new “Mr. & Mrs. BFF” is Instagrammed, filtered and released on Facebook, including all the obligatory #hashtagwhatevers.

7:31pm – The only people liking the pictures are your 3 BFFs sitting next to you, who are already on Facebook uploading THEIR pictures to share with the world, and the mutual friend or two who know these people, but not well enough to be invited to take their own pictures to upload to Facebook.

7:33pm – Your picture is now buried on your newly married BFF’s feed because the other 150+ people have uploaded THEIR pictures on Facebook and appropriately tagged the happy couple as well.

2 weeks later – The freshly honeymooned BFFs see the pictures for the first time after they’ve been home for a week, opening presents and commenting on THEIR OWN uploaded pictures of the various drinks and food from some fabulous location in the islands.

See what I’m talking about? Your picture was seen for about 10 minutes and then buried on Facebook, buried on Twitter, and eventually deleted because you need to make room on your smartphone for the fabulous tapas you’ve just ordered at El Vez.

What’s the problem you ask?

I want you to imagine sitting through your favorite movie on TV, but only if you’re watching it through your camera app. What would you miss with your field of vision only focused on a ¼ of the screen? Magicians have been doing this for years. When your mind and eyes are focused on whatever it is they’re drawing your eyes to, you don’t see what’s going on elsewhere.

What about that great show you saw on Broadway…would you have been able to enjoy watching Elphaba defy gravity and rise to her true wickedness if you were only watching it through an Instagram square? What if Book of Mormon was “Vine” of Mormon? You’d have to watch the show in 6 second increments!

My point is that there is so much more to what happens at a wedding that you miss by having your face glued to your screen. You miss the true emotion of what’s happening at that very moment because you’re too busy trying to focus in. Then you’re adding whatever filters and uploading so the world can see the love. Except, unless you’re in the first or second row…you really CAN’T!

At our wedding in 2006, the videographer knocked over the Candelabra next to us during our vows, spilling hot wax all over himself. Had you been staring through your phone looking at us, you never would have seen that happen. Your field of vision would have obscured it. You would have missed the moment.

I’m not telling you that technology has no place at an event. It absolutely does. But the memory of what your EYES can see vs. what your smartphone can see are two totally different things. Your memory of an event will far outlast any picture you take with your smartphone. And if you don’t believe me…think about this.

Your memory never needs to be put into a bag of rice after it was dropped in the toilet.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences – EMAIL US!

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the author: Brian Miller is a multiple award winning photographer and photojournalist. He is also the owner of Chorus Photography in suburban Philadelphia

Why Professional Photographers are called Professionals May 20, 2013

Anyone who knows me and has seen some of the pictures I’ve taken can attest to the fact that I will never make a living as a photographer.  While I can see what I want to capture in my head, something happens to it between my mind and the moment my finger hits the snap button. I’m pretty sure snap button is not the official term for it, but you know what I mean.

Usually what happens in the moment of disconnect from mind to snap, results in something very different from my actual intention.  Sometimes I get lucky and the image is not blurry or off-center.  Usually though, I am either too far away, my zoom is too far out, or I am too close, zoomed in.  Any of those scenarios create odd photos with results that leave a lot to be desired and are nothing like what actually happened.

In my hands, photography becomes a lethal weapon. I cannot tell you how many people I have beheaded through photography. Nor can I explain why so many of my friends do not have feet.  We won’t even discuss the number of people I have squelched or cut in half.  Oh and yes, that is my thumb on the edge of the picture.  And I absolutely meant to include that lampshade in the picture.  Yes, one of my friends only has half a face and that is the back half of our cat.  Get the picture? Yes, most of us have a phone that can take pictures and we use it all the time.  Many of those pictures are fun to share on Facebook or among our friends but they are certainly not ones I would frame and hang on the wall.

 

All of this and more is why I know it is worth every penny to hire a PROFESSIONAL photographer when there is an event that I want captured for eternity or however long photos last.  A professional photographer knows what all the parts of the camera are AND HOW to use them.  A professional photographer will create pictures that are gorgeous and capture the moments I want and as I remembered them.  They understand lighting composition, how to arrange everyone for formal shots, how to capture great informal photos and how to make sure we do not all have vampire red eyes.  (Another effect I am really good at – or, there are some serious things I do not know about my friends.)

A professional photographer knows how to frame a shot and will shoot hundreds and hundreds of pictures to make sure I have many great photos from which to choose the perfect ones.  A professional photographer will capture moments I may not have even known were happening.  The photos will be clear, sharp, focused and everyone will have all of their body parts. The details will be covered, and covered beautifully.

They will create pictures that we will hand down to family, friends and loved ones.  Pictures we will frame and hang on our walls. I believe a good photographer is an artist – an artist at capturing moments.  It is an art to look through a cameras lens and see the moment and capture it; capture its brilliance, spontaneity, the swirl of life and light and movement.  That is why some photos amaze us.  The photographer caught something we felt, saw or remembered.  We respond to a good photo.  We look at it, talk about it, and appreciate it.

So when I want a photograph to laugh at, shed a few tears over, or simply just hold onto and remember, I want the person who captures that image to feel the same emotion I did in that moment. And I’m sorry, but not everyone possesses those skills.

Think about that the next time you have something important you want to remember. Some moments really are priceless.

 

 

Sandy White is Chorus Photography’s studio manager, overall glue that keeps the company together and relentless task manager to Brian.

Formal Wedding Portraits. Beautiful Keepsakes or the Brink of Insanity? February 13, 2013

The day of your wedding is a whirlwind of fun, excitement, and lots of rushing around. And for whatever reason, one of the most dreaded parts of the day is often the family formal portraits. It feels like they take forever, at least one family member goes missing, and tensions can tend to rise. It doesn’t have to be this way! Your entire day should be stress-free and beautiful. And we assure you it can be done.

Here are some tips to help ensure your formal portraits go smoothly and quickly…and everyone has a good time in the process!

1. Appoint a family ambassador. Designate one person that knows your family well to assist your photographer with finding and corralling family members. The less time we spend seeking people out, the quicker the images will go.

2. Maintain focus. Fact. It’s your wedding day. Everyone wants to have a photograph of you…many, in fact. But please remind your guests to be respectful of the professional photographer you hired to document your day. Once we’re sure we’ve captured the image, we will be glad to step aside so others can use their own cameras. This way, everyone’s attention, and eyes are focused on us. Must we really point out that our camera equipment is of far higher quality than an iPhone?

3. Plan ahead. Make sure you have reached out to everyone that you would like to be in your photographs so they are aware and know the what, where, when, etc. This simple gesture will save time and headaches, and your photographer can help you put a schedule together to keep things moving.

4. Set realistic call times. If you know you have a relative that perpetually runs 15 minutes late, tell them to be there 15 minutes before the scheduled time. One late arrival can break the schedule and take away precious time with your guests.

5. Expect the unexpected. You’ve planned for months. You’ve covered every detail. And unfortunately, some things will still fall outside of your control. Don’t panic. Just plan for some added hiccups. 15-20 minutes of cushion should help in keeping your stress level down and make your portraits more enjoyable.

6. Know what you want. Have a formal shot list ready for your photographer at least one month prior to your wedding day. Having an easy to read shot list will make everyone’s day easier. The shot list should start with grandparents, then flow into each side’s extended family.

Example of the perfect shot list:

• Bride and Groom with both sides of their extended family
• Bride and Groom with grandmother grandfather (names)
• Bride with grandmother (name)
• Bride with grandfather (name)
• Bride and Groom with grandmother grandfather mother father (names)
• Bride and Groom with grandmother grandfather mother father sister brother (names)
• Bride with grandmother grandfather mother father sister brother (names)
• Bride and Groom with grandmother grandfather mother father sister brother aunts uncles (names)
• Bride with mother father sister brother (names)
• Bride with mother (name)
• Bride with father (name)
• Bride with sister and brother (names)
• Bride with sister (name)
• Bride with brother (name)

Repeat with the same combinations for the Groom’s side of the family. Including names will help to track people down and prepare in advance for the next set of shots.

If there are any special combinations of family members, let us know in advance so we can plan extra time. If your parents have remarried please inform us so we can accommodate for those combinations as well. Becoming familiar with the family dynamics helps your photographer to avoid awkward circumstances and make sure everyone is comfortable.

A little bit of organization can go a very long way in keeping your wedding portraits smooth and enjoyable. All you need to do is plan ahead. Your photographer will handle the rest.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Megan Carrie has been the lead or second photographer on most weddings at Chorus Photography for the past two and a half years. She is a Maine College of Art graduate, loves to travel, is a brilliant boudoir photographer and in her off time loves to spend time making pancakes with her boyfriend Bill.

Hit Me with Your Best Shot(s) August 27, 2012

We take our wedding clients out to dinner for our first meeting to get to know them, but more importantly, to hear their “story”.  And  once we know how it all began, we start discussing the personal details of the big day.  How the day will play out, where we’ll be doing formals, which family always runs late so we’ll have to tell them the call time starts 20 minutes earlier than it really does, etc. etc. etc.  The next words out of my mouth normally are, “I know we may be a while off, but you should start thinking about your shot list.”

And the look and corresponding response I get is typically a mix of confusion, fright and humor.  “Wait…we have to tell you what we want you to shoot?”


The answer is a little bit yes, and a little bit no.  But more on that later.


When you hire a professional photographer to document your wedding, or Bar/Bat Mitzavah, we bring with us the knowledge of weddings past.  Neat and interesting shots we may have gotten by accident that have since become staples for us on weddings days.  We know all the important shots to capture because the law of averages tells us so.  We know there’s going to be a ceremony and to get that first kiss.  We know that at the cake cutting, there’s a 50/50 chance that someone is going to be blowing icing from their nose for the rest of the evening.  We know that if there’s going to be a garter tossed, we have to don our helmet and pads and get in there to make sure we get the shot.


What we don’t know are the things YOU do.  Your history.  What makes you two…well, YOU!  Weddings are like snowflakes.  Same composition and effect…but no two are exactly alike.


Are your bridesmaids and groomsmen school friends?  Is the groom (or in some cases, bride) the kegstand champion 4 years in a row, and you’d like to recreate a particular part of that one crazy HISTORIC night that is STILL talked about?  Is it family tradition to slap the groom upside the head as he walks down the aisle?  And of course, nowadays…EVERYONE is dancing their way down the aisle.  These are all silly things that (while ALL true stories from former clients) should end up on your shot list.  It is part of your history, and unless you tell us…we’ll never know!


The shot list is also our roadmap for the day.  It ensures that we can roll through all your formal shots in short order because we know who is currently being photographed, and who is on deck.  The Bride & Groom basically get caught up in a tsunami of people getting shuffled around them.  If this is being done before the ceremony, we like to breeze through it so you have a chance to rest before the ceremony.  If it’s AFTER…then you’re going to be staring at your watch looking for the waiter with the cocktail weenies and drinks to roll in if we don’t have that list to follow.  If it takes even longer because we don’t know where people are, or who we’re supposed to be photographing…it can get ugly quick.  That’s not what your day is supposed to be about.





So…while you don’t have to write down every single part of the day that needs to be captured, there are certain things to keep in mind when putting your shot list together:


1)      If it’s important to you, then it should be important to us.  We’re there to capture your day, and we’d rather err on the side of caution beforehand than miss something entirely the day of.  If it’s important to you, then make sure it gets on your list.


2)      Don’t try and write your list all at once.  The two of you should write separate lists over time.  Keep a small notebook with you, or tell Siri.  Then about a month before the wedding, you want to sit down with your soon to be, compare lists, take out the overlapping names, make one big list and then send it to your photographer for their input and any questions. 


3)      Be as specific as possible when listing your formals for your photographer.  While we may know you may have a brother or sister…we’d much rather call them by their name than “Hey…you!!”


4)      Don’t worry if you miss something.  While it’s great to have as much as possible already written down prior to the wedding, there are pictures you’ll forget you want until you’re in the moment.  DON’T PANIC!  Just because it’s not on the list, doesn’t mean we’re not going to take it.


We’re aware you have plenty of things going on in the months and weeks leading up to your wedding.  Fittings, hair & makeup trials, cake tasting (our personal fave)…but in those spare moments you have, taking the time to help us help you will make sure that all the preparation that went in to making this day perfect, will be documented forever.


And let’s face it…it will be a lot less embarrassing than kegstand shots your friends just found and posted on Facebook.





 


As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences – EMAIL US!


About the author: Brian Miller is the owner of Chorus Photography in suburban Philadelphia.  To his knowledge, he is NOT the winner of any recent kegstand competitions.