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

Simple Tips For A Better Photo Shoot March 12, 2013

I was perusing our Twitter feed this morning and happened across a post by Donna Serdula.   Donna is well respected and published LinkedIn Guru, who had a posted an innocuous tweet about bringing multiple changes to a headshot session.

 

That got ME thinking about a prep email we send out to all of our clients when we confirm their upcoming photo session.  Seemed as good a time as any to share with our readers, followers, etc.
These are just typical, industry standard tricks and tips that most professional photographers will impart to you before a professional or family portrait session.

 

So thanks for the inspiration Donna!

On Clothing: Try and keep colors from getting too close to your natural skin tone!  That’s our biggest tip for you.

·           Avoid clothes that may take you back to the 70s’:  i.e. wild checks, stripes, and very busy patterns; especially if worn together!

·           Avoid clothing extremes. Generally, turtle necks and V-necks are good, as long as they don’t over-power the face. Dress to feel comfortable.

·           RELAX!! If you are feeling frazzled, it will come across in the portraits.

·           Opt for long-sleeve shirts rather than short-sleeve.

·           The color of the clothes:

• Avoid bright reds and orange (they battle your face for attention)
• Darker colors are generally better than light colors.
• Colors like white, yellow, and pink tend to over-power the face and can make you look too pale.
• In general, the best colors are medium shades of blue, green, burgundy, and rust.

·         Baggy pants, shorts, and slacks do not photograph well and are not recommended.  Well-fitting jeans are always a good call.

·         When doing a studio shoot, come to the studio in sweats or street clothes when or if possible.  It’s ok if you aren’t able to; but if you will be wearing multiple outfits, you can change here to keep them looking fresh.

·         These are just guidelines though, you should definitely show your personal style in your portraits and throw caution to the wind if it suits your personality.

 

For Makeup:  Not too heavy, not too light. If you “never wear makeup” you might want to at least use some for your photo session.

·         Accent the eyes using mascara and eyeliner

·         Eye shadow should be used sparingly.

·         A light foundation or base gives the complexion an even tone.

·         Use powder to eliminate shine.

·         A blusher gives the skin a healthy glow.

·         Coordinate lipstick with the outfit worn.

·         If dark circles are present under the eyes, use an erase that is close to the skin tone.

Shaving & Hair

·         Get a good shave if you have a heavy beard.

·         Don’t get a new hair cut just before the shoot. Give it a week. Consider having it styled for the shoot, but skip the cut. If you really want a cut, just don’t go radical.

·         If you get your eyebrows waxed or threaded, please do so at least 2-3 days prior to your headshot shoot.

·         A change in your hairstyle is not recommended. Arrange your hair normally and as you want it to appear in the portrait. Freshly shampooed hair photographs best.

·         No glitter make-up or sparkles in your hair.

Other Stuff

·         Increased water consumption will help clear your skin and give it a healthy glow.  It will also make you look younger and fresher.

·         Reducing consumption of coffee, teas and sodas will give your teeth a break from stains and discoloration too!

·         If at all possible, avoid alcohol for a day or two before your shoot.  It dehydrates the skin.

·         Try to get a good night’s rest before the day of your shoot.

For Children’s Photo Shoots

·         For children under the age of 6, one of the most important things to do is to make sure they’ve had a nap before the photo shoot.  Even if they don’t normally sleep during the day, in this case, make an exception.  A tired kid is usually an impatient and cranky kid.  Difficult enough for a parent to deal with; nearly impossible for us to try and work with when we’re trying to make them look like a rock star!

·         Feed your child first and have food ready in case they need a snack during the photo shoot.  For kids of any age (and lots of adults too), a full stomach makes a lot of difference to improving a mood and improving the ability to focus for more than a minute or two.

·         Don’t give your kid food or drinks that are proven hyper-energy boosters.  No sugar and no caffeine before or during the shoot!  This means no soda, nothing with ketchup, no sugary cereals, no cookies and so on.  Hyper kids are even more difficult to photograph than tired or cranky kids.

·         Be sure to explain clearly to your child about the photo shoot before you even meet up with us.  Tell them my name; explain what will be happening and why the pictures are being taken. Even more important to explain, is that they need to listen to what I’m asking them to do. (Such as how to pose, or to look at the camera or to hold still, etc.)

·         During the shoot, unless the photographer asks you to, try not to direct your child too much.  Although it’s instinctive that you’ll want to, it really is best to let us do what you hired us to do.  Plus they will get very confused and upset when they have two different people trying to tell them what to do.

·         If we’re shooting in our studio, be sure to take a few minutes to let your child wander the studio and check things out before our camera comes out.  It’s important that we establish a rapport with the little ones before starting the photo session.  Even just a few minutes of me talking to the child – or with very young children, just getting them used to the sound of a new voice – will make a big difference in the quality and tone of your child’s session.

·         Bring a few of their favorite small toys with you.  If you’ve booked more than half an hour (most sessions are 60 to 90 minutes at least), then take them for a 5 minute walk halfway through.  If we’re somewhere outdoors, let them run and play for a few minutes.  If we’re in your home, let them play in their room or in your yard for a short while.  Again, a happy child is much easier to take pictures of than an unhappy one.

·         A simple thing but sometimes an overlooked one, is to be sure your child has gone to the bathroom right before the shoot.   And if they haven’t, then be sure to take at least one washroom break – even if your child doesn’t ask for one – during your session.  Many children are too shy to ask to go to the bathroom if they’re around a stranger or in a strange situation.  If your child is still in diapers, make sure they’re clean and dry at all times during the shoot.  If they need a diaper change, don’t hesitate to take the time.  We expect this, so don’t worry about taking the time to do it.

·         If, despite all your best efforts, your child is in no mood for a photo shoot and is fussy, or crying non-stop or just won’t be still or calm, don’t try to force the situation.  Reschedule.  The sooner you decide it’s better to reschedule, the less time you’ll need to pay us for being in a situation where we’re unable to do our job.   Although it might end up costing you a bit more than you’d bargained for, if the photos of your child are important to you, rescheduling with us will be worth it.

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

Iron Chef Jose Garces Shows Off His “Cheese” Skills October 4, 2011

While doing a shoot last night for our client; St. Christopher’s Foundation For Children / St. Christopher’s Hospital’s incredible program “Dine In – Help Out“, Chorus owner Brian Miller & Founder of The Garces Restaurant Group and Iron Chef, Jose Garces take a moment to “cheese” for the camera.

The Iron Chef & The Less Than Iron Photographer