Thank God for Characters in our lives.
St. John's is at the end of the world. We are leaning out into the North Atlantic, hugging the wet rocks and praying for 'nice day. People who live here are resilient and out going...Characters. I love people and love photographing people. It is my great pleasure to get to know these people and photograph them in my humble way. Hopefully you feel that I do them justice.
Photography is a great and funny business. I do it for a living, but it is also one of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities that I have ever participated in. I am not a snobby artist photographer who thinks that they are greater or more “visionary” than the rest. I love the photography of others. After 25 years working as a professional photographer and 10 years as a teacher of photography, I learn about my passion from everyone who is also passionate about creating an image. There are things to learn from great artists like Rembrandt and Karsh, there are always new things to learn from “The Kids” who seem to embrace the new image capturing technology as if it were instinct. I always learn from my students and my coworkers. As with most people in the “business” of photography I learn from other professional photographers. This blog is about Photography. It is probably meant for other photographers as much as it is for me to talk about my photography
Wedding Photography 101: If you love photographing people and creating images that tell a story then wedding photography can be one of the most personally satisfying pursuits with a camera. Your job as a wedding photographer is complex. The first and most difficult to grasp concept is that as the Wedding Photographer, you are NOT the artist. Rather you are the group leader of a number of artists. In most cases the “lead artist” is the bride and hopefully the groom. Your role is to interpret the Bride’s vision and deliver technically brilliant images with your own creative skill that fulfill the vision. Evan if the Bride says “Oh you are the photographer, you do what you think is best.” Then that means that you have to work harder to understand what the Bride, the Groom and the Families really want. Don’t mistake this offer as instructions to shoot as if it was your wedding or your last great wedding, or even some sort of “Portfolio Shoot”. You are part glamour photographer, part photojournalist, part documentary photographer, part fine art photographer and part diplomat. The truly great wedding photographers are entertainers, motivators, organizers and “One day Life Coaches”. To be successful the photographer needs to encourage, motivate and inspire each family member, bridal party member and guest to participate in the photography for the support of the Wedding Couple. Not every person at a wedding is model material, however if they were important enough to invite to the wedding then they are important enough for you to capture in a flattering and artful manor. You are not shooting your portfolio, you are shooting the wedding story so make it a great story.
The St. John's Character Collection