NicholasDonner.com Photo Blog

JOSH AND JAMIE PART 2

2012-02-01T09:53:00.000-08:00

JOSH AND JAMIE PART 1

2012-01-29T18:53:00.000-08:00

Josh and Jamie are brothers with an Australian mom and an English dad. Which means they were pretty much football hooligans from the get-go. Josh has been helping out with some recent photo assignments and after getting our work done for the day at Living Social we shot some more stuff just for fun.

AN EDUCATIONAL MOMENT

2012-01-26T08:55:00.000-08:00

I had been planning to write a post on why wedding photography seems so crazy expensive. Last night someone wrote pretty much exactly what I would have wrote, here:

WHY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS PRICES ARE "WACK"

My wedding business is slightly different from hers but not by much. My cost of living is a bit higher being based out of Washington, DC, the wedding season lasts a bit longer, and I have a few other segments of business. The fact remains: it is expensive and time consuming to run a professional photography business. Professional is the key word here. That means you have experience, continuing education, professional grade equipment, back up plans, insurance, you are reliable and prepared, and you don't cut corners on your products or services. And it means you are working within the law and paying your taxes. There are plenty of non-professionals out there willing to photograph a wedding on the cheap but brides must be willing to sacrifice one or several of the factors that differentiate a professional.

This is not a complaint. I consider myself super blessed to have art as part of my work. And unlike this blogger, I am not insulted by people with relatively low budgets. I am writing this because some people have a misunderstanding of the business side of photography and perhaps have never been educated on it. There is an assumption that all one needs is a high quality camera (which are very affordable these days) and one day of work to take home $2500. Clearly, there is much more involved in order to run a legitimate business, to stay in business and to maintain satisfied clients.

On an unrelated note... I was back in Southern California last week. It's still pretty there.

I BUILT A DESK

2012-01-23T20:46:00.000-08:00

When I first struck out on my own I was working on a desk in my bedroom. Then, a few years ago, I moved into a place with an extra room that I turned into an office. It's always been a little more of a workshop than an office, with camera equipment and backdrops and building materials scattered about. My desk was made out of a door that I sawed in half.

As my business matures, I think so should my office. It's time to grow up! So I'm remodeling, renovating, or whatever you call it when you make a room better than it was before. I wanted another work station for the occasions when people come to help me, a sitting area for clients and to keep a little room to set up lights for headshots or small product shots when I need to. I decided that designing my own desk would be the best way to accomplish this.

It's all 2x3s, 1x4s and a few metal brackets. I slathered on the white paint so it would fit in with the rest of my 1940s house, layered with paint from multiple decades. And then I topped it with tempered glass. It's exactly what I wanted. And I really enjoyed building it.

2011 FAVORITES

2012-01-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

The past few years I have posted a "best of" for the previous year. I realize that this is a few days late, but nevertheless, here it is: my favorite photos from 2011. I first thought this would be a good chance to showcase some of my best photos but as I looked through them I started picking out ones that are more meaningful to me than ones that are technically outstanding. The above represents some of my favorite people in 2011 and some of the most fun times I had all year. And it is a great reminder of the power of a photograph. It's more than something pretty to look at. It's a memory of a special time in life—being young and in love, being old and in love, the moment you committed to spend your life with another person or the moment your hard work and talent was recognized on a magazine cover. The moments don't always last long but the photos help us savor the feeling. Looking back over the year, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world spending my time with these amazing people and sharing some of the best of times.

CANON 5D MARK II: IS IT WORTH IT?

2011-12-23T16:16:00.000-08:00

According to some rumors floating on the internet we are onthe eve of seeing a 5D Mark III and I’m only a few months into owning a MarkII. However, I still wanted to lay down some thoughts on spending over $2,000on a camera body, because I know people will continue to ask me if it’s worthit. By the way, the price on B&H just dropped to $2,000 (from $2,500) so manypeople feel that is a strong indicator that something new is almost here.

So here’s what I think. For the kind of work I have beendoing (magazine portraits, weddings, family portraits, headshots) the 5D hasbeen a luxury more than a necessity. Before the 5D, I was primarily using a 40D,a very nice 10 megapixel camera. Before that was a 30D, and before that was aRebel XT. I’ve shot magazine covers with the 30D and had a 24x36 inch printfrom the Rebel XT in an art gallery. I’m pretty sure that none of my clientshave noticed a difference in photo quality or have needed a 21 megapixel image.

While my clients probably don’t see a difference, the 5DMkII does have some advantages that make my life a little easier. The mostsignificant to me is being able to shoot at high ISO with much less noise. Whenshooting outdoors, this gives me about 10-15 minutes more time after sunsetbefore it’s too dark to shoot without a flash. And it allows me to shootwedding ceremonies in a dark church without a flash. Is that worth $2k? I guessit depends on how much work you do in dark settings without a flash! If youdon’t already have fast lenses to work with, it’s really not worth it just forthe ISO.

As a side note, I am very happy that I invested in fast,quality lenses before a 5D. The 24-70mm, 70-200mm, and 50mm prime had much moreto do with the quality of images than which body I was using.

The other area that makes a difference to me is the full-framesensor. My lenses are no longer magnified 1.6x and some seem more practical.The 24-70 never seemed wide enough—now it does. The 70-200 seemed like a lot ofzoom for most situations—now it’s just right. I kind of liked the 50mm on thecropped sensor, which leads me to believe I should buy an 85mm as my next primelens as that would be the similar length on the 5D. But the 50mm does workbetter in tight spaces now. And at wide open apertures the depth of field ismore pronounced on all the lenses, so that’s nice.

A great reason to buy a 5D MkII is for the video features. Iam not doing all that much filming with it so those features were not a goodreason to buy for me. I’m hoping I can spend some time exploring the videofunctions and that will become a good reason to have spent the money.

If you’re a professional,you probably know whether a 5D is right for you. The majority of people whohave read up to this point are probably not counting on their photos to put food on the table, and my advice isstill this: any of the new Canon orNikon SLRs are going to be good enough for whatever you are doing. Invest yourmoney in several good lenses first because that will make the biggestdifference in the quality of your images. If you can afford it, start with the24-70mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4, or 35mm f/2. Then, after you have a few good lenses,invest in a full-frame body. By that time you’ll be ready for the Mark III!

BEST MUSIC OF 2011

2011-12-23T15:34:00.000-08:00

Along with my favorite films of 2011, I decided on my five favorite albums for the year. I end up listening to a lot of music while I'm working so each of these got SIGNIFICANT airplay in my office. In no particular order:
Need to Breathe – The Reckoning

These boys took it up a notch—again. They have been workinghard and it shows in how they craft the melodies, lyric and their dynamic stageshow. It’s just pure southern rockgoodness but with enough polish to please the masses – including the TaylorSwift crowd while on her megatour.

Ryan Adams – Ashes and Fire

Ryan is a fantastic songwriter and this album is one of hisfinest. His collection of poems set to simple sturdy songs has no BS to it, nounnecessary notes or guest appearances. Just a guy with his guitar. Listening to this album makes you feel ascool as Ryan Adams.

Cults – Cults

On first listen I thought this was just another retroguy/girl duo knockoff like I’d heard a bunch of times over the past few years.But then somehow I ended up listening to the album every day finding them to bea type of art-pop that wasn’t too arty for daily consumption. And I kind ofliked that excessive reverb and cutesy vocals.

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Like the first album, at first I was a little bored. But afriend sent me a leaked copy a few weeks early so I thought I would listen toit a few times just so I would have some frame of reference for all the reviewsI knew would be coming on the music blogs. And in no time I was hooked. I wouldput it on when it was raining. I’d put it on late at night. I’d put it on whenI was feeling introspective or tired. There is some serious mood behind thosemelodies and I think a great piece of art allows to you access those feelings.

The Naked and Famous – Passive Me, Aggressive You

Technically, this album came out last year but I’m not surewho heard it in the US. I first heard them at 930 Club, opening for FreelanceWhales and was completely blown away by their energy and live sound. Theselittle kids from New Zealand were the new Shiny Toy Guns—I could already hearthem being used for car commercials and cell phone ads. Their sound is very2011, with a mix of electronic drums and synths and youthful rock guitars. PlusI love the NZ accents.

Also, I go to a lot of shows and often get asked which are the best to see live. So here is a quick top 5 shows of the year.
1. Jimmy Eat World - this was definitely my favorite. They played old stuff, new stuff and everything in between.
2. Yelle - despite having some drunk kid throw up on my shoes I still had fun. That's how I know it was a good show. She has a ton of energy and awesome dance moves.
3. Death Cab for Cutie - kind of like Jimmy Eat World, I've been listening to them for something like 10 years and all of their songs are connected with memories, which makes for a more interesting experience. And they played all the good stuff.
4. Lisa Hannigan - this woman is adorable, just so likeable and talented. She is a true musical artist and definitely enjoys playing music.
5. Girl Talk - I feel a little bad about this one because the level of musicianship is a little low and Gregg didn't have great showmanship either - he could work on his dance moves. But there is talent there and the crowd was in to it, which made for a fun time. Sorry, Matt Nathanson - you put on a good show too. Maybe next year. Ha!

STUDIO PORTRAITS AND WALT DISNEY

2011-12-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

I recently read a quote by Walt Disney where he supposedlysaid, “We don’t make movies to make money. We make money to make more movies.”I liked it because it was a reminder why I started a photography business inthe first place—because I enjoy it. I have acquired a lot of really coolequipment this year: a new 5D MkII body, 70-200mm f2.8 lens, 100mm macro lens,and a ton of Paul C. Buff lighting equipment, among other toys. At the time allof these purchases weren’t very exciting. They were for my business after all,and it was a lot of money I no longer had for vacations, eating out, hobbies orfor important things like savings or investing.

Walt’s words helped me look at the big picture. I now have acollection of equipment that allows me to do so much more with photography thanI could a year before. When I’m stuck in the day to day of bidding on jobs,meeting with clients, or sending out invoices it’s hard to see the progress I’mmaking on reaching my long term goals. But when I look back at the work I wasdoing a year ago and how I have progressed creatively (and in technicalknowledge) everything comes into perspective. All these tools have helped me topractice my craft and ultimately to have the chance to keep making more greatphotographs.

It helps to use the gear for things other than workprojects. Stephanie came to my office one day and sat while I tested some newlights. It ended up being a lot of fun and I learned a few things along the waywithout the pressure of having to deliver for a client. We even got some prettydecent photos.

THE BEST MOVIES OF 2011

2011-12-18T23:01:00.000-08:00

Awards season has begun and every year I am faced with thesame disappointment in seeing talented people overlooked and average peoplebeing rewarded based on things other the merit of their work. So this year, Ipresent to you my picks for the best in movies for 2011. I’m sure Imissed some good stuff as I didn’t see every new movie—so let me know if you think I missedsomething big for 2011. My top 5 movies, in no particular order:

Super 8

It seems there are only a handful of people in Hollywoodthat really know the formula for making great films and Steven Spielberg and JJAbrams are two of them. Rollingtogether several genres of film made it unique but the story had transcendingthemes like many other great films, such as the value of childhood friends, theexcitement of a first crush, and struggling to relate to parents. The settingof 1979 was close enough to my own childhood to resonate with me too. I feltlike the story moved along pretty quickly—no boring parts—and was not at allpredictable. The best part were the characters. The kids in particular all hadvery unique personalities and were great together. This movie was just fun andI would certainly watch it again.

Fast Five

First of all, I enjoyed the first four Fast and the Furiousmovies, even Tokyo Drift, which most people thing is the lamest. They have discoveredthe formula of hot cars + hot women = awesome—and with the fifth movie theyjust kicked it up a notch. Morehot cars + more hot women + the beach + exotic cultures + more action + evenmore clever (although really cheesy) humor = a place on my top 5. They broughtback characters from the other films and tied all the stories (previouslysomewhat independent) together, Including Tyrese Gibson from #2, Sung Kang from#3, Don Omar from #4, and Jordana Brewster from the first film. Also anotherreally fun film and maybe even my favorite of the series.

Midnight in Paris

I’m really interested in the theme of the Head vs. the Heartand I love when Woody Allen does it, like last year with Vicky ChristinaBarcelona. Add in the lovable Owen Wilson and you have yourself a movie. Thedialogue between the historic artists and writers was clever and it was kind offun to imagine what they would each be like in real life. I’m a sucker for ahappy ending, and this does not disappoint, although with a few turns along theway.

The Help

It is difficult to make entertainment out of an epicstruggle like the civil rights movement but this movie did it, and did it well,taking me on an emotional ride as I learned about each character’s unique pointof view through a complex and engaging story. This film hit me similar to theway The Power of One did when I was a kid. I liked Emma Stone before this movie but up until now I feellike I hadn’t seen her depth—becoming believably smart, strong and compassionate—notjust quirky or the sassy adolescent. And the rest of the cast took this storyto new levels and I hope that they all win awards, especially Jessica Chastain,Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Viola Davis and Sissy Spacek.

50/50

This is the film that completely surprised me. I expectpretty much anything with Seth Rogan to be completely stoner stupid. He stillmanaged to play the idiot friend, but by the end you found him strangelylovable. The script was fantastic and had me laughing out loud, even in thecrudest of parts. I saw this movie with a friend who’s brother has battledcancer and we agreed that they captured a lot of the feelings that go alongwith facing death and spending a lot of time in hospitals and just reevaluatingyour life. My favorite part was seeing Anna Kendrick in a bigger supportingrole with a character who had real personality. I never saw Up in the Air so Iwas surprised by how much I enjoyed her in this movie. JGL is a man of manytalents and he hit another home run with this one after entertaining us me with500 Days of Summer last year.

I'm going to give an Honorable Mention to Harry Potter for finishing strong and to Hugo for being really fun, especially in 3D. Up next... the top 5 albums of 2011.

CHRISTMAS PARTY PHOTO BOOTH

2011-12-12T18:31:00.000-08:00

Before I get all technical on you I'm just going to say that this booth was the most fun one I've done yet. I knew it would be difficult to top the wall of presents from last year, so I scaled down the complexity of the background (although all the spray-mounting, x-acto cutting and lighting took longer than I thought it would) and focussed on making it a better user experience. Focus was faster, lighting was better and faster, and prints were provided. Surprisingly, last year's post was one of my most read and most googled so I'm going to talk a little about the set up because clearly people are interested.

The actual booth is not as much a booth as it is a background stand. It's made of wood and the backgrounds I make have to be fairly light to be hung on the frame. This year I used big sheets of foam core, mounted kraft paper to them and cut the shapes out. Some of the trees I drilled holes to poke mini lights through. I wish this was a totally original idea but I borrowed most of it from J Crew window displays.

The camera is set to manual at f/5.6 and 1/100 sec. The shutter has to be fast enough to catch people if they are moving and the aperture has to be wide enough that everyone in a group is in focus. I set the flash to make up for the smaller aperture and faster shutter speed. In previous versions of the booth I used two Canon Speedlights and umbrellas. This year I switched to one regular studio strobe (with a silver umbrella) centered above the camera. I did this because the strobe has more power and a faster recycle time. With one speedlight I would have to crank it up to 1/2 power or full power and the battery would drain quickly and it would need a few seconds to recycle between flashes. With two speedlights, each could use half the power and recycle would be faster but I would have to place them on the right and left of the camera. In that situation, I would get weird shadow areas sometimes depending on where the subjects were standing. With one light right above the camera the subject could move right or left or closer or further away and the light would be relatively even. It would be brighter when they are closer and dimmer farther away but I don't think there is much you can do about that without physically changing the flash setting for every shot. I was able to compensate for distance in Lightroom by changing the exposure up or down a stop.

Things that didn't change: I still have a remote control so that guests can take the photos themselves and I can walk away and enjoy the party. I use a cheap Cowboy Studio wireless remote. I bought some of those newish Yongnuo radio triggers as a backup system too. Guests can view each photo on a monitor as they are taking them. I use the A/V out to RCA cable to connect the camera and monitor. And like last year, guests who have had 2 or more cocktails are 58% more willing to do the Macarena or something else awesome in front of the camera. So I still encourage that.

This year the real game changer was printing photos as I went. I had looked into it before but always found that the real photo printers were in the $2000-3000 range. There was no way I could make my money back on that without booking the photo booth every weekend for the next year. But last week a photographer friend introduced me to Canon's mini photo printers which come in under $100 and made printing much more reasonable from a cost perspective. They aren't super fast—about 60 seconds for a 4x6—but waiting a minute for a photo seems fast when you aren't expecting an instant print.

So, that's how it works! Any questions?

OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA ENGAGEMENT: CASSANDRA & DAVID

2011-12-09T10:05:00.001-08:00

David proposed to Cassandra by the river in Old Town, so itwas an ideal spot to start our engagement session this past week. We began withsome bright midafternoon sunlight, which kept us (mostly) warm until the sundropped below the rooflines, giving us some really nice late afternoon light.At that point I was too jazzed about the photos to think about the cold.

One awesome thing about David & Cassandra: they are reallygood photo-kissers. There are only a few examples in this blog post—I like tokeep it family friendly—but the evidence reveals that they know what they’redoing. The thing is, you might be a good kisser in real life but on camera it oftenlooks sloppy, smushy, or just silly. The key is the “almost kiss,” that moment right before lips connect orjust as they brush together. That’swhen it looks hot. And it’s when you can capture the anticipation and exhilarationthat people feel when locking lips with someone they love.

BALTIMORE WEDDING: CYNTHIA & MATT

2011-11-15T13:45:00.001-08:00

It's nosecret that the winter is my least favorite thing about life on the East Coast.This year it seemed to come a little early with a surprise snow in Octoberand a bunch of cold and blustery days in November. So I really savor the Fall,drinking in the crisp air, not quite cold yet, and tracking the slow colormorph going on in my backyard. Cynthia and Matt's wedding in Baltimore wasclassic Fall with reds and yellows on the trees, bright blue skies, and light windsacross the harbor pushing cool clean air and opening up an incredible view fromthe church and reception on the top floor of the Hyatt at the Inner Harbor.

Matt andCynthia chose a peacock feather theme for colors and decoration. I'm a big fanof calming blues and greens and, I'm not going to lie, their theme was part ofthe inspiration for the shoes Ipainted for my sister last month. They had feathers on the tables, on the cake,as hair clips, and as a boutonnière.

Theceremony was at the historic Old Otterbein Church (built in 1785!) and, atleast on the shady side, was the perfect place for the first look and weddingportraits. Once we got to thereception DJ Lauren Bobby already had the music going to kick off the party.The dance floor and all of the tables had an incredible 180 degree view of theharbor and everyone had a great time eating, drinking, dancing, and celebratingMatt and Cynthia and the promise they had just made: to love each otherforever.

LITTLE WASHINGTON WEDDING: SUSAN & JUAN

2011-11-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Susan and Juan were married at the Inn at Little Washingtonnear the Blue Ridge Mountains in rural Virginia, deciding to have an intimateceremony—so intimate in fact that it was just them, the pastor and me!

It was a perfect fall day and the sunset was unbelievable,magnifying the color of the trees and the surrounding farms. Susan and Juanwere super relaxed after the ceremony since the only thing they had scheduledfor the evening was dinner at the Inn. We took portraits for over an hour. Thenthey went off to dine at one of the highest rated restaurants in this area andI took a few more photos as the light behind the hills slowly faded away.

MANASSAS WEDDING: SHANNON & RYAN

2011-10-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

“Have you ever seen anything like this at a wedding?” I wasasked this many times near the end of Ryan and Shannon’s reception at Foxchase Manor in Manassas. I had not.

By this point the band had finished an encore set, startingwith a tight version of Journey’s “Don’t’ Stop Believin’” and I was sure thatShannon was going to stage dive into the frenzied crowd of friends andfamily—all of whom had been dancing non-stop for the better part of theevening. We’d done dinner and cake, bouquet and garter tosses, first dance anda surprise grandfather-granddaughter jitterbug dance. We’d witnessed a touchingceremony and made it through the many photos with family and the 19(!) peoplein the bridal party.

I’m hoping these photos show some of the emotion andexcitement of the day and that they help Ryan and Shannon remember how much funeveryone had and how much their friends and family love them, participating inthis important step in their life together. Beki and I definitely had funtaking them.

Thank you Ryan and Shannon for all the work you put intoplanning this event—it came together wonderfully. And thank you to your incredibly good-looking and easy-going friends and family for helping us to get great photos. And thank you Ryanfor your dance moves. I now have a sweet collection of photos with you being riddenlike a horse on the dance floor.

GETTING CRAFTY WITH TOMS

2011-10-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

So by now most people know about Toms, the shoe company thatmanufactures extremely simple shoes and distributes them to needy childrenaround the world. For every pair that is purchased, they give one pair away.Pretty cool, right?

These shoes are literally a blank canvas. It didn’t takelong before people discovered that they could be hand painted and infinitelycustomized. My sister discovered this before I did and soon dropped off a pairfor me to do “whatever I wanted.”

I chose to do this peacock theme based off an illustration Isaw earlier this year and picked colors that I knew Stephanie would like andwouldn’t be too different from stuff she would wear anyway. The paint is regular acrylic paint thatI have used for other painting projects. I know that eventually the shoes willwear out and the design will be faded so I took a few photos to document mywork.

EDITING STAGES

2011-10-17T21:36:00.000-07:00

In my workflow, there are basically three stages of photoediting. The First Stage is the raw photo. This is what comes out of thecamera. Generally, these are pretty decent photos, but you will probably neversee them.

The Second Stage happens in Lightroom. This is software that allows me toadjust the exposure, white balance, contrast, and color saturation, among otherthings. The Second Stage photos tend to have brighter whites, darker blacks,even (and consistent) skin tones and just a little more… pop. For wedding andengagement photos every photo goesthrough Stage 2. This is a timeconsuming process, taking 6-12 hours for each wedding. For most weddings Ioutsource this process to acompany I trust called Shoot Dot Edit because it helps me get the images backto my clients faster and frees me up to run a business instead of sitting infront of my computer for days on end.

The Third Stage happens in Photoshop. This is where I dofine tweaking on the color, remove blemishes / smooth out skin, removedistracting elements in the composition, and cropping. For weddings, Stage 3 photosare only included in album photos or custom prints. This is because it is a very time consuming process to makethese digital enhancements. For magazine work, or jobs with only a few images,like corporate headshots, Stage 3 is usually included in the price. When it’snot included I do this detailed Photoshop work for an hourly rate.

You can see the difference in the three stages of myworkflow in these wedding portraits:

WASHINGTON DC WEDDING: NIKKI AND DAVE

2011-10-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

I did not know it was possible to get married on theNational Mall. But Nikki did. I’m not sure how much planning and paperwork isinvolved with scheduling an event on public property like that but Nikki andDave pulled it off. And even with careful planning it doesn’t always go the wayyou want. The original plan was to have the ceremony at the DC War Memorial,close to Lincoln’s reflecting pool. A few days before the ceremony was to takeplace, the National Park Service informed the bride and groom that they wouldhave to move to the Jefferson Memorial. Not a bad backup plan!

So right before sunset Dave and Nikki were married, with theTidal Basin behind them and their friends, family, and Jefferson in front ofthem. After the ceremony the bridalparty gathered for some photos on the Memorial and the happy couple stuckaround to see the sun go down from the big, white, marble steps.

After the ceremony, the party got started at the McLean Gardens Ballroom in DC. Foreign relations were maintained (Dave and his familyare English!) through dinner, drinks, and some impressive dance moves. Truly,love knows no boundaries.

SECOND SHOOTING

2011-10-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

For wedding photography I always recommend to couples thatthey consider investing in a wedding collection that includes a secondphotographer. Part of the reason is selfish. It’s much easier to document awedding when there are two people. Everything happens so fast and it’sdifficult to be in the right place at the right time, every time. But there arelots of other reasons that make sense for couples that can afford it. Thesecond photographer can get important photos that I can’t. For example, I can’tphotograph the bride with her father before she walks down the aisle AND thelook on the groom’s face when he sees his bride for the first time. Or, photosof the bride & groom alone AND the guests mingling at a cocktail hour. Heor she also cuts down the time it takes to wrangle people and set up the family/ formal photos, provides additional angles for important moments, lends someextra creativity, and helps me carry heavy stuff. All of this makes me happy. AndI take better photos when I’m happy.

Assisting a photographer for a wedding is not always an easyjob. I did it a few times when I was young, for an aunt that shot weddings.It’s important to find someone that is dependable, professional, friendly,creative, flexible and hard working. How they interact with your clients andguests at a wedding is very important because they affect your brand and howpeople view your business.

One of my favorite photographers to work with is Beki. Shebrings a positive attitude and a creative eye and makes sure that my clientsare enjoying their experience being photographed. Beki just about has herwebsite up, but until then, you can see some of her really cool photographywork here.

We took some of these portraits in my office—just for fun!

WASHINGTON CAPITALS FOR ON TAP MAGAZINE

2011-10-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

This month’s issue of On Tap magazine features theWashington Capitals and several of my photos from a shoot earlier in the month.This, like some of the other sports shoots I have done, was put togetherquickly and I had no idea what the location looked like or how much time Iwould have with the players. So once I arrived at the Kettler Center, where theteam practices, I had to make some quick decisions and do some creative problemsolving with the equipment I had brought.

I only had a few minutes with each of the four players beingprofiled—Mike Green, Karl Alzner, Mike Knuble, and Troy Brouwer. They were allfriendly and easy to work with, no huge egos to contend with, just regular guyswho are really good at hockey.

Of course, there are million things I would have donedifferently with more time to plan, with more time with the players, or severalassistants helping me with the gear. But the important thing is that I got theshots I needed and the client is happy.

Also, it turns out that the public can drop in and watch theCaps practice any time! While waiting around between shots I jumped in thepress box in between benches (no protective glass from the rink… yikes!) andgot a few photos of the practice session.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of the magazine at your favorite restaurantor bar in DC, Maryland or Virginia.

FRIENDSHIP MONSTER THEME ART

2011-09-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

Lately my blog has been a great way to showcase what I’vebeen up to with portraits and wedding and engagement shoots. But I still getinvolved in a wide range of other creative things (like my cabinet from lastweek) that I don’t usually post up here. That is about to change and this is one of thosethings—combining photography with my graphic design background in a projectthat I had a lot of fun with.

This Fall my friend Ron Merrell is teaching through a sermonseries at Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita, CA called “FriendshipMonster.” For 8 weeks they will be exploring some common things that mess upfriendships for teenagers and college students. Ron will be talking about 8different things and he gave them each a name.

Pride - "P-Rex"

Words - "The Detonator"
Neediness - "Draino"
Social Media - "Electronicon"
Jealousy - "Enviodon"
Hypocrisy - "Shape Shifter"
Insecurity - "Spineless"
Gossip - "Shredder"

I went through and illustrated a body for each, meant torepresent the characteristics of the monster. Then I went wandering around DCby myself at night (yes, it was scary) and took photos of dark corners. Then Iwent home and inserted the shadows into the photos. I was super stoked aboutusing my new camera for the photos – I went without a tripod and just crankedthe ISO to 3200, because I can. Each of the final images have been enlarged tomovie poster size and hung where the students meet at the church.

The messages will be online here if you’d like to hear them.

AWESOME LOCKER FOR ABOUT $25

2011-09-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

One of my many hobbies is refinishing furniture. I don’t getto do it very often because it usually requires lots of time and space. Thisweekend I decided to tackle a quick project—repainting a metal locker. A friendwas getting ready to trash it and I thought I could breathe new life into thepiece and get some use out of it. With a locking door and a safe inside itcould be a great place to keep some of my equipment.

So, for about $25 worth of sandpaper, tape andspraypaint—voila—I have a sweet new locker for my office. The “before” photoshowing off it’s standard issue gray uniform is below.

WASHINGTON DC PORTRAITS: SMITH FAMILY

2011-09-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

The Smiths came into town from Dallas for a few days onbusiness and managed to squeeze in some time to take a few family photos. Wecruised down to the Tidal Basin just as the sun was going down to get somesweet photos near the Jefferson Memorial. Little Sawyer isn’t so good at looking at the camera when you want herto but she’s great at peek-a-boo, finding the moon and looking cute at all times.

OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA WEDDING: LAUREN & JONATHAN

2011-09-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

You may remember Lauren & Jonathan from their beautifuldowntown DC engagement session a few months ago. Well, this weekend they weremarried in Old Town Alexandria at the Carlyle House—a historic residence datingfrom 1753. Lauren and Jonathan made their own history there, sealing theircommitment to each other in front of friends, family and God. After theceremony guests made their way to the reception site, the Morrison House, a fewblocks away for dinner and drinks and some dancing with a sweet jazz band ledby Karen Gray.

WASHINGTON DC ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS: EMILY & MARTY

2011-09-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

Emily and Marty woke up EARLY to meet me down on the National Mall as the sun was coming up. We started at the Lincoln Memorial, in the front before anyone else was on the steps, and then walked over to Constitution Gardens. The pond at the gardens is somewhere that I have never done photos before but based on some of the photos from this session it's a new favorite spot! After our time in DC we drove out to Great Falls, the spot where Marty proposed, and another beautiful spot for photos.

FORT BELVOIR WEDDING: KATE & JASON

2011-08-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

On what might have been the hottest day of the year in Northern Virginia, I photographed Kate and Jason's wedding at Fort Belvoir. The intense heat didn't spoil any of the fun - we still got some great photos inside the chapel and Officer's Club, even venturing out of the air-conditioning for a few minutes with the bridal party. The reception was inside the Club where floor to ceiling windows gave the guests a majestic view of the Potomac river and, for a while, gave us some backlight for the first dance photos. It was great working with DJ Lauren Bobby again. She keeps everyone on the dance floor until the party's over—which helps me to get some fun dancing photos every time. I'm proud to say that the guy being ridden like a horse on the dance floor is another client of mine with an upcoming wedding. I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I saw it. So great.

Congrats Jason and Kate. I'm very excited for the beginning of your married life together. And thanks DJ Lauren Bobby, Shannon, Ryan, J.J, and Anthony for teaching me how to Dougie. See you in October!

SAN DIEGO WEDDING: EMILY & GRAHAM

2011-08-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

San Diego. It's one of my favorite places in America. It has some pretty great surfing. The Mexican food is phenomenal. Some of the country's most active (and attractive!) people live there. I was excited about taking a trip to attend this wedding but even more excited when Graham and Emily asked me to photograph it.

I'm incredibly blessed to have a handful of friends that I've been pretty close with since the 6th grade. Graham is among them and all of us were pretty excited for him when we met Emily. Graham is super smart and funny. Emily is super smart and funny. Graham is committed to living out his Christian faith. Emily is faithfully committed to Jesus too. Graham is fun and adventurous. Emily is fun and adventurous. Graham likes giving bear hugs. Emily likes receiving bear hugs. Graham is a dancing machine. Emily is also a dancing machine (see below). It was pretty inevitable they would end up together.

So, at the Soledad Club on a hill overlooking Mission Bay, Graham and Emily were married in front of friends and family and then proceeded to dance the night away. In the middle of the first dance they quickly cut to the Macarena (a true crowd pleaser) and then proceeded to show us their Poker Face. Throughout the night we would continue to see great dance feats like The Worm, The Splits and pretty much everything that Kevin James did in the movie Hitch.

I also had the pleasure of working again with my friend Jamie Baldwin of For the Love Photography for this wedding. Jamie helped a ton and got some really great shots which I'm sure she'll post to her site too.

People often ask, "Would you ever travel to shoot a wedding?" The answer is yes. Especially if the clients are getting married in San Diego.

BABY ANIYA

2011-08-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON DC ENGAGEMENT: LAUREN & JONATHAN

2011-07-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Clients ask all the time when the best time to take photos on National Mall is. In the summertime, it's right around 6am. I hate saying it and they probably hate hearing it. I'm pretty sure that when I decided to start my own business one of the deciding factors was not having to get up with the sunrise. But then I get there, it's quiet, no tourists - just a few runners, and the light is interesting. Every time I'm there I start to think, "I should change my schedule and go to bed earlier," maybe I could experience some more sunrises. In California sunset is my favorite time of day. In DC, it's the sunrise.

Lauren and Jonathan met me down near Memorial Bridge, early. I liked working on these photos because they are a little different from my usual style of bright colors and strong contrast. Lauren likes vintage style and is planning her wedding to reflect that—which I'm really looking forward to. With these engagement photos I tried to go a little more dramatic with shooting straight into the sun, over-processing a bit, and slightly muting the colors. It's been fun to collaborate on the look of the photos, while being able to retain my own style and come up with something unique.

LIBERTY MOUNTAIN PENNSYLVANIA WEDDING: LAURA & KEVIN

2011-07-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

Laura and Kevin are from Pittsburgh but live in DC, so Liberty Mountain was a great central choice for friends and family from both areas to make it to the wedding. I had known about Liberty as a winter destination—it's one of the closest places to DC to go snowboarding—but I didn't know how beautiful it is in the summer. There are lots of big trees, lots of wild flowers, and of course, mountains. The ceremony was held right against the base of the back side of the mountain and the reception was in the Boulder Ridge lodge, with massive windows looking out on nature.

With the idyllic backgrounds, slowly setting sun and beautiful wedding couple I knew we were going to get some great photos. But when they agreed that going up the climbing wall in formal clothing was a good idea, I knew we really had something special. Laura and Kevin have something special in each other and it was an honor to be there to capture it on their wedding day.

OCCOQUAN ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS: KATE & JASON

2011-07-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Right on the Occoquan River is a sleepy little town with a long history. Originally inhabited by native Americans, it was also home to some of the first British colonists, and later it's post office served an important function during the Civil War, intermediating mail between north and south.

Kate and I tossed ideas back and forth about where to shoot these photos, narrowing it down to places near water, and Kate suggested Occoquan. Neither of us had spent much time there so we weren't sure what we were getting into but Kate, Jason and I found some cool little spots along the river to do this engagement session. There's a footbridge over the river and a small waterfall, rocks, docks, and a few quaint parks.

The wedding is going to be legendary—any gathering of so many O'Malleys has to be—and we're cooking up a super secret post-wedding shoot that should be off the charts if we can pull it off.

INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS IN WASHINGTON DC

2011-07-05T06:29:00.000-07:00

The fireworks over Washington DC were amazing, as usual. I staked out a favorite spot with some friends early in the evening at the Marine Corps memorial in Arlington.

OK, I know this is a day late (I didn't feel like working yesterday!) but I'm going to lay out some tips for shooting fireworks for next year. First, you must use a tripod. I've found that shutter speeds between 1/2 second and 4 seconds seem to work best and hand holding your camera at those speeds means that every shot will be blurry. Second, unless your tripod is incredibly stable, use a remote shutter release or the timer because just the act of pressing the shutter is enough to shake the camera and cause bluriness. Third, include a static item (like the Lincoln Memorial) in the frame to show scale. Set your focus to that item and then turn off the autofocus. The autofocus will be super confused by all the flashing lights and will cause you to miss your shot. Fourth, use your aperture control to expose for the buildings and to control how bright the fireworks look. Most of these shots were 2-3 seconds at f20 or f22. The small aperture allowed me to use a longer shutter speed and to keep the fireworks from being too bright to see any detail. Fifth, is to shoot as many frames as you can because there is an element of luck to getting the money shot. It's impossible to predict when each firework will burst and how bright it's going to be, so you just have to use your best guess on the settings and hope for the best!

ARLINGTON WEDDING: JENA & KENAN

2011-06-29T22:13:00.000-07:00

I really loved everything about this wedding. Jena and Kenan are so laid back and didn't seemed stressed out at all on their wedding day. Jena had planned everything so well, I had plenty of time to get all the photos I wanted of the dress and her shoes, time for a first look (with just the two of them) before the ceremony, lots of portraits with Arlington and Georgetown skylines behind them, shots of the reception dining room, and even chat with some of the guests (including good friends Gary and Sterling)—all before the ceremony started. I also loved the venue. Hotel Palomar is a super classy hotel in Arlington and the ceremony was on the 4th floor patio overlooking Georgetown across the Potomac river. Boris and the staff at the hotel turned their restaurant into a great reception area and served up a fantastic dinner.

Other things I loved:
1. Jena's style: The blue shoes, the vintage wedding dress that belonged to her mother, her bold necklace, and simple elegance.
2. The Tiffany & Co. engagement ring. Classic.
3. Their family and friends: Everyone was sooooo nice.
4. The schedule: Ceremony - Dinner - Cake - Open Bar and Mingle. So simple, yet delightful.
5. Engagement photos and childhood photos on iPad slideshows.
6. Overcast day for soft light on outdoor portraits

So good...

ANNIVERSARY SESSION: RYAN & HEATHER

2011-06-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

OK, I realize there's a lot of photos in this post. Too many? Is anyone having trouble loading the page? I try to be selective in what I'm posting to the blog, but there were just so many good images in this set that I had to include all my favorites. Last year, Ryan, Heather and I did a post-wedding shoot out in 100 million degree weather—which turned out great. This year, as they talked about doing a first anniversary session, we did a little more planning and waited for good weather. Heather pitched the idea of styling it with flowers, food and other props that set the scene. And did an amazing job! Right?! Heather is now doing some style consulting for my clients, so if you need help coming up with ideas for what to wear or what to bring to an engagement or anniversary shoot, let me know and I'll put you in touch.

We shot out at the Monocacy Aqueduct in a pretty rural part of Maryland. It's a pretty neat spot with grassy fields right next to the Potomac and a bike trail running through. Turns out the Confederate soldiers tried to blow up the aqueduct twice during the Civil War but it just wouldn't crumble.

Not only are both Ryan and Heather really really ridiculously good looking but they are a lot of fun too. We had a super time playing around out at the aqueduct, eating Heather's food, riding bikes, and playing with their new puppy, Ava. I'm already looking forward to their second anniversary!

GAITHERSBURG WEDDING: TIFFANY & DAVID

2011-06-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

Tiffany and David had their wedding ceremony and reception at the Kentlands Mansion in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It wasn't too long ago I was shooting David's sister's wedding so much of the family was familiar. This made the family photos really easy because everyone knew how I work and where to stand. The bride was looking beautiful and along with her man and the bridal party we had a fun group, managing to take some great photos outside among the perfectly manicured gardens and up on the balcony overlooking the front lawn, and of course, on the dance floor.

LEESBURG ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS: SHANNON & RYAN

2011-06-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

After throwing out a couple location ideas for this engagement session, Shannon and Ryan were most excited about visiting a winery. Tarara in Leesburg has a perfect blend of open spaces, patio, vines, and leafy, shade covered nature. And the surrounding countryside has many old houses and barns and rustic fences running along rolling hills.

We started with the wine, which, I decided, is going to be requisite for all future engagement sessions. Although it certainly wasn't necessary with Ryan and Shannon, who have a ton of fun together anyway. It was still a great way to start a Friday evening. Shooting at sunset, we had interesting light to work with and some of my favorites came with the low sun shining straight on them and reflecting off the nearby lake.

Shannon and Ryan have known each other for many years, dated long distance through college, and have grown together over that time. They are incredibly comfortable around one another and not afraid to be themselves, even when someone is pointing a camera at them. I'm excited for their wedding in the fall and for the marriage of two really awesome people.

POTOMAC WEDDING: JEANNE & JEFF

2011-06-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful spring day when Jeanne and Jeff had all their closest friends and family gather to celebrate their wedding at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. My favorite thing about this wedding was how fun, genuine, caring and loving both of the families were—one could easily see how much they all love each other and how excited they were for Jeanne and Jeff. Happy families are one of the key ingredients in great wedding photos. It didn't hurt that they were all really good looking either! The ceremony was held under a huge tent, right next to the picturesque golf course, and afterward everyone made their way inside to a romantic country inspired reception filled with heartfelt toasts and a crowded dance floor.

It took many people to pull off such a beautiful wedding, among them was Danielle at Evoke, who coordinated the day and kept everyone organized, taking care of every detail. I also really appreciated Olivia at TPC Potomac, who coordinated the club's efforts to make it a perfect day for the bride & groom. It's tough to imagine how much goes into a wedding, especially one of this size and quality, until you've planned one. With professionals like Danielle and Olivia taking care of the details, the bride won't see half of what they're doing, but she'll be so glad they are there on the wedding day—and able to just enjoy the special moments as they unfold.

SILVER SPRING WEDDING: TOM & DANA

2011-06-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at some of my favorite shots from Tom and Dana's wedding at Argyle Country Club in Silver Spring, Maryland. After rain off and on for a week straight the clouds lifted for a perfectly sunny (and hot!) day. My good friend Jamie Baldwin flew in from Chicago to help with the photography, capturing other angles, rounding out the coverage and lending a creative eye. We found a couple of cool shady spots under the trees for the bridal portraits and some of the family photos. The setting sun gave us a really nice backlight and Tom and Dana took care of the rest, just looking gooooood. After the formal photos the fun really started with the bridal party leading the charge on the dance floor and partying until late in the night.

PORTRAIT: DC UNITED'S CHARLIE DAVIES

2011-05-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

This month I had the opportunity to photograph DC United's Charlie Davies for On Tap Magazine. Charlie has an amazing story that has unfolded over the past few years. In early 2009 he was moving up the ranks of European soccer, from a Swedish team to a French Ligue 1 team, and making an impression on American fans with some goals for the US National team. Many Americans, myself included, saw him as the kind of striker we would need to successfully compete at the World Cup in South Africa—fast, creative and competitive. But in late 2009 a car crash left him with head injuries, a broken leg, broken arm, lacerated bladder, and little chance of making a full recovery before summer. Charlie began his rehabilitation in early 2010 and with a new lease on life and a positive outlook worked his way back to fitness. Unfortunately, he didn't make it to the World Cup but by late 2010 he was back on track with his French club. Early this year Charlie was loaned out to DC United—a big pickup for a team struggling to find the back of the net—and Charlie has already become one of the league leader in goals.

Since moving to DC, Charlie has had a lot of people interviewing him and photographing him. Sometimes when athletes are made to do a lot of press they are moody and not willing to cooperate, but Charlie was a super nice guy, easy to talk with and he went along with my creative vision for the shoot. I was even able to get some tips from him for muscle recover after a hard workout! We started in the locker room at RFK stadium for some moody portraits and then moved out to the field for some daylight shots. The week before I was able to get a press pass to shoot the game against the Colorado Rapids for some action shots of Charlie at work. It was a thrill to be right there on the field and to meet some of the other photographers who have a lot more experience photographing soccer matches than I do.

The whole experience has been one of the highlights of this year. I have to thank my sister Stephanie for coming out as my assistant and contributing ideas and extra hands for this shoot.

ARLINGTON ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS: JENA & KENAN

2011-05-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

Jena and Kenan are getting married in just a few short weeks and last week we were able to meet up and check out the venue and take some photos in and around Rosslyn. They said they are not very comfortable in front of a camera. From these photos, it's hard to tell. It is easy to tell that this couple is very comfortable with each other and completely in love. We started the day at the Artisphere and ended our session at Roosevelt Island, where Kenan proposed. Both were great spots and made for some beautiful photos!

WASHINGTON DC ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS: GRACE & HUGH

2011-05-20T18:50:00.000-07:00

This has been a really rainy spring. I guess that's kinda normal for around here but it has made planning outdoor engagement sessions really difficult. Those weather reports with 50% chances of thunderstorms really stress me out the day before a shoot. However, lately I've been getting some really great images on days when the rain is imminent. Grace and Hugh decided that we would take our chances with the weather and I'm glad we did! This early morning shoot left us (mostly) dry and with some cool photos from around the Jefferson Memorial, Tidal Basin, and some of the tucked away gardens within the National Mall. The light was soft, the pavement had a nice sheen to it and this couple was two of the nicest people I have photographed.

WASHINGTON DC ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS: LAURA & KEVIN

2011-05-15T17:19:00.000-07:00

Laura, Kevin and I met up early one morning this week to grab some photos out on the National Mall before the tourists started flooding the monuments. Just after sunrise proved to be perfect timing—the sun was moving in and out of some low hanging clouds, letting us get some shots in bright light and some in soft diffused light. There was even a moment when we had the entire Lincoln Memorial to ourselves!

After that, we took a walk through Georgetown and talked about food and soccer (Kevin is a chef and soccer fan) and some of the details for their wedding up at Liberty Mountain in Pennsylvania. Along the way we took a few more sweet photos of the two of them. I really really like the ones with the green circles on the ground and Key Bridge in the background. With every engagement session I'm finding cool new spots that I never knew existed, like that concrete maze. And I'm so lucky to have clients like Laura and Kevin who are willing to explore... and to get on the ground and play along for shots like that.

BALTIMORE ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS: CYNTHIA & MATT

2011-05-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

We originally scheduled this session a week ago but the weather forecast was calling for rain and hail. Cynthia and Matt said they could handle a little rain—hail might be too much. So, this weekend, since it was "only raining" we met up for engagement photos near where their wedding will be in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

It ended up being a really great time! By the time we started the rain had been reduced to a light drizzle, the light was near perfect and we pretty much had the entire harbor to ourselves. Between that and the fact that you can see on their faces that Cynthia and Matt are in love and have no problem having fun in the rain as long as they are together, it was a recipe for great images. We also managed to make it to the spot the engagement took place at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington for some more great light and a phenomenal view of DC. I'm looking forward to their wedding in November!

WEDDING: ERIN & DON

2011-04-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

The wedding celebration (emphasis on celebration) of Erin and Don was everything I expected: classy, fun and thoughtfully planned. Everything—from the girls getting pretty at the W Hotel, to the harpist accompanying the ceremony and the charming British officiant, to the rooftop reception at the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown DC—made this a memorable night. A collection of motown hits set the mood and Georgetown Cupcakes were abundant. Erin and Don's closest friends and family had flown in from all over the country, and some had flown in from places abroad... and it was clear: they were here to celebrate.

Knowing Erin and Don for over a year now, I knew there was plenty of reason to celebrate. It's visible how much they are in love with one another. They are a perfect match, both smart, successful, witty, and laid back. Not long ago, Don safely returned from a stint in Iraq. Erin's dog, Phebe, is also in love with Don. And they have a bright future ahead of them.

But I guess I underestimated the scale of celebrating that would take place. After the pronouncement of "Husband and Wife" the people were ready to party. On a scale of 1-10, the fun factor was an 11. DJ Lauren Bobby kept everyone on the dance floor until the staff started kicking people out. And even then, the fun could not be contained as many of the guests migrated to the afterparty in the bar of the W until the early hours of the morning.

Erin and Don, thank you so much for letting me be there for this celebration, to meet your friends and your family, and to document the day. I hope the photos remind you of how epic of a party this was and special all the people you love are!

ENGAGEMENT: TIFFANY & MITCH

2011-04-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I cruised out to Meadowlark Park again, this time with Tiffany and Mitch. I had been there about a week earlier and it's crazy how much the plants change in spring—especially the cherry blossoms. A whole different set of trees was in bloom! We took advantage of the beautiful scenery, taking photos with the white blossoms, the bright pink blossoms, and all the greenery coming back to life. So happy for the spring!

ENGAGEMENT: KALLIE & TONY

2011-04-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

Tony got a hold of me after finding my website on Google. We agreed to meet for an engagement shoot not knowing very much about each other but over the course of an hour I learned:
1. He's from Boston.
2. He's a big fan of the NY Yankees
3. He's known Kallie since high school
4. Kallie refused his advances until after college
5. He is definitely crazy about Kallie and can't wait to marry her

OK, I don't know about #4—that might be a lie. But I do know that both Tony and Kallie are wicked smart (throw in some Boston slang there...), look great together and can have fun with one another even at 7am on a Monday morning. We took advantage of the DC cherry blossoms being in full bloom and wandered around the Tidal Basin to get these photos.

TIFFANY & DAVID ENGAGEMENT

2011-04-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

I met Tiffany and David two summers ago while I was photographing the wedding of David's older sister. I was amazed to learn that they had been play friends as little kids and then, once they grew up into teenagers, started dating. At the time I was joking with David's dad that it wouldn't be long until there would be another wedding in the Greenberg family. And in a few months I'll be there again photographing the celebration of Tiffany and David transitioning a lifelong friendship into a marriage.

We all liked the idea of shooting among the cherry blossoms but were concerned about weekend crowds for the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC. So I did a little research and on a tip from another client we checked out Meadowlark Park in Vienna. And it was beautiful!

CHERRY BLOSSOMS

2011-03-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I took a day off for a relaxing brunch with Stephanie and then a walk around the Tidal Basin to check out the cherry blossoms. Since the blossoms only last about two weeks and are pretty unique to DC we braved the crowds and even managed to take a few photos along the way.

I have a few shoots planned among the cherry blossoms this week and next. If the rain let's up you'll see them on the blog soon!

ENGAGEMENT: SHONTEL & JOEL

2011-03-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Shontel and Joel were sitting on a park bench in Old Town Alexandria, much like the one in the photos (actually it was the exact one in the photos!) after a quick stop at the ice cream shop. Shontel was confused why Joel would be reaching in his pocket during the middle of their conversation but it all became clear when he pulled out the ring. Right there, on that bench, she agreed to marry him.

They met last year at what they both thought was a costume party, dressed up as well... uh... we'll just say hillbillies, to stay as politically correct as possible. Turns out no one else dressed up. But somehow they were able to see past the cutoff jeans and NASCAR t-shirts and discovered the beginnings of a relationship, one that developed despite a great distance since Joel is actively serving our country in the military.

It was a blast hanging out with these guys and taking some photos in Old Town. Joel was a little apprehensive about posing for photos at first—I mean when your fiancé says "Honey, we're going to take some professional photos today," most men don't really know what they're getting into. I try to make sure that dudes are looking as cool as the ladies are pretty, and to not make them do anything embarrassing. I knew that silly stuff wouldn't fly with a Marine like Joel anyway. At the end of the shoot it was really satisfying to hear from him that the session was a lot easier and more fun than he expected!

PORTRAIT: DC BARTENDERS

2011-03-25T21:35:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a quick photo shoot with three of DC's most popular bartenders, one of whom will be on the cover of On Tap Magazine this month after winning a contest to see who the best bartender in DC is, based on the votes of On Tap readers. Because they are so popular (and busy) I only had a few minutes with each to get a portrait so I went the safe route and set up a white background and some soft even lighting. The first, Al, is from Black Cat. The second, Rachel, is from My Brother's Place. And the third, Dave, is from The Greene Turtle. Make sure to pick up a magazine next week to see who won!

PORTRAIT: STEPHANIE

2011-03-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

This is Stephanie. She is new to Washington DC. And as evidenced by the photos, she likes looking pretty, laughing and doing the robot, in that order. And because she is my sister (fellas, no, you can't date her—and you're right, she is probably out of your league anyway) even after a long work day she was willing to help me test out a new light modifier that had just come in the mail by posing for an impromptu photo shoot.

I am a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to using Adobe Lightroom for editing and organizing photos. But I have had it for a few months now and it has saved me a TON of time. While Stephanie was busy doing the robot I was trying out Lightroom's tethering capabilities. So every time I would snap a frame, she could see it almost immediately on my computer screen. So cool!

SELF PORTRAIT

2011-03-11T11:58:00.000-08:00

This is my newest self portrait. I tend to take a photo of myself at least once a month for several reasons. First, it's fun to try new things with my equipment without the pressure of messing up an important shot. Second, I like seeing the gradual change in how I look over the years. And third, I like having photos of myself to use for marketing.

I took this shot because I have just finished restoring a beach cruiser AND because I wanted to test out a new giant parabolic umbrella that I have. The bike was in decent shape when I bought it but it was green and had stickers all over it. I took the whole thing apart and sanded down the frame, painted it black, reassembled the parts after cleaning them, and added new grips. At some point I might replace the pedals and if I ever have lots of free time on my hands, repaint the rims blue. Not likely. The umbrella is about 5 feet in diameter and throws a broad beam of light, so it was ideal for lighting up me and the bike while keeping the background fairly dark, even though it is an overcast but bright day. I bought another bike, a women's version, which I plan to do the same with but in white. I'm thinking that I could do some cool things with the bikes and engagement or anniversary photos.

In other news, while last year was my "Year of Networking," I decided that this is my "Year of Planning and Infrastructure." My photography business is growing quickly and I want to be ready to handle a larger volume of business over time while continuing to raise the bar and over deliver for my clients . Big plans are on the horizon and I'm looking forward to sharing them on this blog over the next few months.

PORTRAIT: PARKER GRAYSON SWEET

2011-02-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

Parker was born on January 11 to my good friends Brad and Johnelle. He's super cute, really mellow, and is clearly a natural in front of the camera. We spent an afternoon putting Parker in different positions, moving him from mom to dad and then back again, and waiting for him to open his little eyes. Babies are probably the most difficult subject for me because you can't give them direction to make a better photo and your success is almost completely dependent on their mood. But when everything aligns there are some priceless shots to be had—like some of the above.
Congrats to the new parents!

PORTRAIT: RASHIDA JOLLEY

2011-01-29T22:07:00.000-08:00

People ask me all the time, "What is your favorite type of photography job?" While I really enjoy shooting weddings and fun portraits with couples and families, the job like the one represented above is my favorite: editorial portraiture. It's challenging on multiple levels. You have to decide on a concept based on the subject's personality and unique characteristics. You have to plan out the technical aspects of equipment and lighting in advance. You have to quickly develop a repoire with your subject so that they trust you to take direction and play along with the concept. But when it all comes together—WOW—it is rewarding!

It doesn't hurt to have a subject who is beautiful, talented, humble, hard-working, and yet still easy-going either. Or a hair stylist, makeup artist and several assistants there with you. It was extraordinary working with Rashida Jolley, former Miss DC, America's Got Talent contestant, and who is currently playing the harp on Lady Gaga's world tour. She stayed for several hours to get all of these shots before heading into the studio to do some recording in the afternoon. Find out more about Rashida at www.rashidajolley.com.

Mie N Yu in Georgetown generously allowed us to use their space to do this shoot. Every room is beautiful so we had lots of options for set ups and backgrounds. Rashida's cover shot and interview in On Tap magazine comes out this weekend so make sure to pick up a copy!

WEDDING: STERLING & GARY

2011-01-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

Sterling and Gary exchanged marriage vows on a beautiful wintery day at the beginning of the year before friends and family in Old Town Alexandria. Snow had fallen the night before and remained on the ground for most of the day. With the cold weather (and the AMAZING reception location) we decided to do most of the photos inside. The reception was held at a private residence in Old Town and the gracious owners allowed me to set up my equipment, move around their antique furniture, and shoot in front of their original Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington. I was excited about photographing in such a unique place and the challenge of lighting the group shots while keeping the artwork looking good and avoiding reflections. Sterling and Gary agreed to brave the cold for a little while before greeting their guests to get some outdoor natural light shots. And I think it was totally worth it! They look great and so happy to finally be married. Congratulations!

FAVORITES FROM 2010

2010-12-31T16:01:00.000-08:00

It's been a good year... and fun to look back on. Lots of good times, great friends and tons of memories to hold on to. But soon it will be time to look forward. History has shown that over time my opportunities have grown bigger and my photography has grown better. I expect the coming year to be no different—and that's exciting! Tomorrow will be a day of relaxing (I've been working non-stop since Christmas) and setting goals for the new year. What should I try to accomplish this year?

SEATTLE SOUTH

2010-12-26T15:59:00.000-08:00

Extreme weather has made this an interesting Christmas vacation. I was excited to leave DC, which still had snow on the ground when I left for some warmer California weather. And while it's been warmer (relative to DC) it has rained almost every day! One of the local radio DJs starting calling Los Angeles "Seattle South." And now, due to a "major" snowstorm in the East, my flight back home has been cancelled.
Despite the rain, the time with my family has been wonderful and I even got a day to break away for some alone time in San Luis Obispo. The rain let up for an afternoon and I spent some time at Montaña de Oro state park, sitting on one of my favorite beaches. The rock on the right side of the picture is where I spent a lot of time during my college years thinking and praying, standing in awe of the God that I believe created that place with it's pelicans and otters and the powerful waves and fiery sunsets. My friend Ron and I used to just call it "The Spot." There's nothing else quite like it—and it was good to be back.

ENGAGEMENT: STERLING & GARY

2010-12-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

One of the coolest things about my relatively new photography business is seeing clients become friends and friends become clients. The latter might be slightly more exciting because I don't ask friends to become clients. I don't want anyone to feel compelled to hire me to in order to maintain a friendship or because they feel bad for me—I'd prefer to be hired based on skill and confidence in having an enjoyable wedding or portraiture experience. I know that I'd probably have more professional success if I was pushy about closing the deal and really solicited everyone I know, including friends and family, but that's just not me. Plus, it's really exciting when friends ask me to shoot their weddings.
Gary was one of the first friends I made after moving out to DC from Southern California. He's super smart, quick-witted and has abs of steel. Sterling is the perfect match for him intellectually, but is clearly a lot prettier than he is. Don't tell Gary I said that. (For some reason, I get really truthful when I'm talking to the internet) We took some engagement photos in preparation for their upcoming wedding in January. These photos were taken in what felt like the dead of winter, absolute frigid digit-numbing conditions, but Sterling and Gary light up every frame.
Also, I will answer the question on everyone's mind: Yes, all of my friends are extraordinarily good looking.

PHOTOBOOTH: CHRISTMAS PARTY

2010-12-05T19:37:00.000-08:00

The good people over at The Grove throw an epic Christmas party every year. This year was no different and the theme was "silver & gold." So for the 2010 photo booth I built a background that included a ton of individually wrapped gifts (all in silver and gold) that looked like a wall of presents. And judging by the evidence above, the guests had a good time with it.

I have been working on making the photo booth better, stronger and more portable and now feel like it's ready to add to my current offerings for weddings and events in 2011. The remote triggering is wireless, giving guests control over when the photo is taken and there is a monitor showing them immediate feedback. Also, the background can be customized a million different ways to complement the event's theme or color palette. As guests leave the booth they can pick up a card with the web address of the site they can download their photos from. All the photos from the Grove can be seen here:

http://ndonner.smugmug.com/Photo-Booth/The-Grove-2010

If you are interested in having the Photo Booth at your wedding, party, or event contact me for prices and availability - info@nicholasdonner.com

PORTRAIT: HOLLIE

2010-11-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

This week I finished building an epic new background for my photo booth—which you will see on the blog next week after I put it to use at The Grove Christmas party. After taking a few test shots in the booth I decided to take my flash and my model (Hollie) outside to see how much power the flash could put out in comparison to the sun. With a speedlight set up behind an umbrella camera left, it produces a neat effect when combined with the backlighting of the sun. And I think the lens flare (from shooting almost straight at the sun) adds to the warm and sunny nature of the images. I don't mean for it to sound complicated. Let me break it down: Pretty girl + pretty light = pretty picture.

PORTRAIT: VIENS FAMILY

2010-11-18T11:11:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago an organization called The Last Well held a fundraising gala dinner to raise some money to help with their mission of solving the clean water crisis in the nation of Liberia. Over 10 years, they plan to raise enough money to build wells so ALL 3.5 million people in Liberia have clean, safe water. Clean water is an easy and relatively affordable way to increase the overall health and productivity of a country. I have been a supporter of this organization from the beginning so it was my pleasure to donate photographic services to their silent auction—which was won by the Viens family! We spent an afternoon taking some shots in nature, which was perfect because they love the outdoors.

PORTRAIT: LEWIS JOSIAH

2010-11-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

The smiles on mommy and daddy's faces say it all: elated to start a family, proud of their healthy son, and that every sleepless night taking care of Lewis has been completely worth the sacrifice. The baby was born on October 21 and 9 days later I was able to meet the family to take these newborn photos. After the shoot was over I was allowed to hold Lewis and it was one of the coolest experiences I've had in a while. Like his parents said as I was leaving, it's so crazy to hold such a little guy and to think, especially when he opens his eyes, that he is a person, with a personality, and will grow up to be totally unique. And I'm completely blown away by the miracle of new life and so blessed to be able to share in the joy of my friend's growing family.

WEDDING: JACQUI & DAVID

2010-11-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

Wow. Where to start? Jacqui likes to smile and David is from Texas.

Maybe Jacqui likes to smile because she’s in love with David. I know other people like to smile when they are around her because she’s joyful and optimistic and fun. There came a day this past summer when David realized that he couldn’t live without seeing her smile every day for the rest of his life. And in Old Town Alexandria, at the site of their first date, he asked her to marry him without hesitation.

There was no question that the wedding should also be in Old Town. Jacqui and David planned it all out: getting ready at the Hotel Monaco, ceremony at The Athenaeum, and reception at Il Porto, the restaurant from their engagement and first date. I was stoked to find out that not only were they willing to see each other before the ceremony for a First Look, but they would plan almost 2 hours for photos before the wedding! Not being rushed through photos was a blessing for me and I think it shows with the quality of shots we got. Plus, David is ruggedly handsome and Jacqui is beautiful and likes to smile. So that helped too.

OK, enough mushy stuff. There were some other things that made this wedding really cool. 1) My second shooter was fantastic. Beki Gangi is one of the few people I know with the energy to keep up with someone like Jacqui and added a different creative perspective to the day. 2) I was able to put together a same-day slideshow during dinner so guests could see some of the photos shot earlier in the day. I wasn’t sure I could pull this off, but since Jacqui scheduled in time for us to eat, it worked out. 3) The DJ, Jack Seghetti, was great and kept me informed well before things were going to happen so I was prepared to get the shot. 4) Most of my friends in DC were there, so getting great shots of guests was too easy because I have photographed them all before. And my friends are above average in the looks department and fun-having department. 5) Jacqui’s Italian and Greek heritage made for some interesting points to the celebration from the wedding crown, to the menu choices, to the Windex spray exit tunnel. 6) Dave has been one of my closest friends since I moved out to DC and a Christian brother in the way Proverbs 27 describes it: iron sharpening iron. Letting me participate in his wedding creatively in this way was a highlight of my year. Dang it!—there I go getting mushy. Enough.

Congratulations Jacqui and Dave!

PIERSON FAMILY PHOTOS

2010-11-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Ridiculously adorable. Cute as a button. Just precious. Yes, Tim is all of these things. But so are his wife Liz and their little girls. I met the Piersons at one of their favorite local playgrounds to take some family photos last week. Don't they make parenting look fun?!! It was a perfectly overcast fall day—just right lighting, and Charlotte and Hannah were in the mood to play. Running between swings and slides, we were able to capture a few of the moments shared between father, mother and young daughters that make life so sweet.

ON TAP MAGAZINE FEATURING LUKE'S WINGS

2010-10-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend, the November issue of On Tap magazine hit the streets featuring Luke's Wings, a non-profit organization that provides travel planning services and airplane tickets for the families of wounded warriors currently hospitalized at medical and rehabilitation centers all over the country. Sgt. John Moore, a current spokesperson for the organization, volunteered to be on the cover of the magazine along with three of their lovely volunteer workers. Mackenzie, Rachael, and Lindsay rocked it for the cover shot with John, and Fletcher (co-founder) and Joe (soldier) stepped in for a few frames too. On November 13, Luke's Wings will be holding a fundraising event at Bobby Van's Grill in DC where you can meet all the awesome people involved in this shoot and support a great cause. Click here for info. And don't forget to pick up a copy of the magazine at bars and restaurants in the DC metro area! My photos are featured on the cover (which I also designed) and the inside spread for the Luke's Wings article.

WEDDING: DONDI & MICHAEL

2010-10-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of 2010 I declared this my "year of networking." In an effort to grow my business I promised to push myself into meeting as many people as possible and putting my work out there for them to see, for one year, and to see where it led me. One of the first people I met on this mission at the beginning of the year was Dondi. She is a masterful networker and has friends and acquaintances near and far, high and low, and in every industry. Her warm personality and caring demeanor draws people in... and it didn't take long for Michael to become enchanted with Dondi. He asked for her hand in marriage and I was thrilled to be asked to be there to to document their wedding day, surrounded by family and friends at the Trump National Golf Club in an upper room with views of the Potomac river and pristine fairways.

PORTRAIT: AMANDA

2010-10-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

One word: smartsexyconfident

OK, I know... that's three words jammed all together. But one wouldn't be enough to describe Amanda—a writer, professor, and business professional. In addition, she's a fiercely loyal friend and a woman who puts her faith into action. When she's not working to change government policy or informing collegiate minds of the systems of American government, she is volunteering to tutor and mentor young students in low income areas of DC. Wait! What!??? She's pretty too? Hey, the photos don't lie.

We took a walk through Georgetown over the weekend, just before the sun set between the buildings, to get some quick portraits.

NEW YORK CITY

2010-10-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Hollie and I spent the day in NYC. I had three objectives: sit on a bench under the elms in Central Park, go to The Met, and eat a slice of pizza. All three were accomplished and it was everything that I had hoped for! The park was beautiful and green, none of the leaves have started changing color, and there was a talented cellist near the bench we planted on playing classical tunes. The Met is always inspiring because of the size and depth of the collections. This time I walked away wishing I was a sculptor and had skills like Rodin. For dinner we found a little pizza joint named Sal & Carmines on the upper West side that I would certainly go back to for that soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside crust. All in all—a perfect day.

WEDDING: LINDA & JON

2010-10-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Linda and Jon got married in Arlington at the beautiful Cherrydale Baptist Church. They hired Jenni Green from Studio Diana to take photos and I tagged along as a second shooter, hanging with the guys most of the time. The bridal party was a lot of fun to work with and I quickly found common bonds with most of the guys because they came out from Southern California for the wedding. One of my favorite parts of taking wedding photos is to see a bride and a groom with their very best and closest friends, the people they have been through everything with, the people who have seen them at the worst... and then on their wedding day, at their very best. Linda and Jon certainly had that on their day. It's a blessing to witness these relationships and a whole lot of fun to try to capture the feelings in a single frame.

HOLLIE: PORTRAIT

2010-09-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

What better thing to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon than a spontaneous studio session? Thanks Hollie!

LONDON FLETCHER AT REDSKINS PARK

2010-09-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

Last month I was given the opportunity to photograph one of the Washington Redskins, London Fletcher, as part of the cover story for On Tap Magazine. London is a middle linebacker, a Pro-Bowler, a 12-season veteran and a standup guy in the DC community. Due to his busy schedule, I had less than 5 minutes to capture a few options that would make good covers. I set up my little speedlights and a background and took some test shots of myself. Obviously, my skin tone is a little different from his, so it took some tweaking to get right. You can see from the photos above that we tried a few poses—he wasn't up for doing anything too crazy—but we were able to make it work! I did the graphic design for this cover too and you can pick it up at just about any bar or restaurant in the DC metro area.
Unfortunately, I don't really follow the NFL so I didn't know who the players were as I wandered around Redskins Park (the team's training facility) and ran into guys in the cafeteria, the weight room and coming out of the locker room and from team meetings. But even still, I feel so blessed that every once in a while the way I make a living includes hanging out with sports heros and celebrities!

ENGAGEMENT: ERIN & DON

2010-08-30T21:03:00.000-07:00

Erin & Don woke up early one morning last week so we could catch some pretty light as the sun was rising over the capitol. Usually, I try my best to let the sun rise before I do. But since this early wake up call meant hanging out with these guys—it was worthwhile. Positively classy and simultaneously unpretentious, Erin and Don have quickly become friends and I'm really really looking forward to photographing their wedding in April. We had a fun time capturing some silly moments and pretending to be serious for some of them. And many thanks to Erin's sister Maria for wrangling Phebe (their dog) and helping to convince her to sit still for a few seconds!