Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, & Destination Weddings - ARMIN | photographer

The NEW blog, www.arminblog.com

2009-03-29T10:31:00.004-04:00

Visit my new blog at

http://www.arminblog.com!

See you there!

Twitter Envy

2009-03-27T17:02:00.003-04:00

For those that just don't understand what Twitter is about, here's a hilarious parody that I'm sure most of you will enjoy whether you tweet or not!

Saving National Park Seminary - Video History from ABC News 7

2009-03-26T07:41:00.005-04:00

I received dozens of request for more information about National Park Seminary regarding my last blog post. So I'm sharing a link to the WJLA ABC News 7 video segment about the Seminary and the link to the SAVE YOUR SEMINARY website... and of course a few more images =)

CLICK FOR THE ABC NEWS VIDEO

Tisha got some shots of me while we were there

Dilapidated? No problem =)

2009-03-22T13:32:00.006-04:00

Asim, Tisha, Kristie and I headed to National Park Seminary to have some fun shooting the ruins there. With new condos and homes recently built right on the property, it's very likely this hidden gem will be gone soon. Our cameras & my Flip Mino HD video camera now help preserve its history.

Slideshow of my images

Video

Some of my favorites

THE Canon 5D Mark II - Wedding Photogs, You Might Wanna Manage Your Expectations About this Great SLR!

2009-03-21T23:10:00.007-04:00

Ok wedding photographer friends! Everyone knows I'm a Canon loyalist, and today I had the pleasure of trying out their new 5D Mark II. One word should sum up my thoughts about it as a SLR - AWESOME. One word describes my initial impression about the video mode - CHALLENGING. Bear in mind, I started in video way back and have some experience in that field, so maybe my expectations were high, but I know I'm not the only one frustrated - just read some forums about it and you'll see I'm not all alone. Click HERE to read a review on the 5D Mark II where the writer & I share the same opinion - the 5DII is NOT meant to replace video cameras. AND you'll need your tripod/monopod/Steadicam handy to produce professional looking results. AND you'll need to seek some education, training, and everything else related to cinematography, camera operation, stabilization, the list could go on. Basically what I'm saying my wedding photographer friends is that you might want to manage your expectations about this baby. It's an awesome SLR, but if you think for one moment you'll master HD video at the press of a button, think again.

One of the biggest draws for me (and many others) is the ability to achieve a filmic look with the 5D II's HD video using our amazing Canon lenses that can give us stunning shallow depth of field that we all love. Easier said than done on the 5D Mark II. Read more about these shortcomings HERE on SportShooter. To sum up this challenge, almost everyone who has seen videos made on this camera want to attain that shallow depth of field look in the middle of the day. In Vincent Laforet's Reverie Canon 5DII video, no shots were taken at mid-day or even in daylight. That's because this camera is made for lowlight video when your video exposure can produce shallow depth of field because it adjusts exposure accordingly. But in bright sunlight, you must do some workarounds to achieve shallow depth of field since manual exposure control is not possible with this camera in the video mode. You read correctly, manual exposure control is not possible in the video mode. Sorry wedding photographers, I know many of you are M-mode fans, but that goes away with HD video mode on the Canon 5D II. Yeah I was bummed big time. However, there are ways to "cheat" the camera into shooting at a wide aperture to get the shallow depth of field - yes I was a little frustrated, but not surprised. One work around to shoot in mid-day at say f/2.8, is to aim the lens at a darker target or area to trick it into a wide aperture (because video mode is always in AUTO), THEN hit the video record button "SET", then quickly lock that exposure and swing it to the actual target I want to shoot video of. Even then, I was struggling with the exposure because my ISO was too high resulting in overexposure. As wedding photographers, especially as wedding photojournalists, this is not always a fast way of shooting, especially when shooting a live event like a wedding. Will the bride & groom really want you wasting precious photojournalistic seconds trying to achieve that shallow depth of field during their wedding? True, you'll have better luck in low light situations, but you'll look silly in bright light swinging your lens around aiming at dark things and trying to get the video exposure right. Still shaking your head on this one? Yeah, me too, but I fell prey to the excitement of HD video too in the beginning.

I am disppointed a bit, simply because many wedding photographers were somehow lead to believe all the hype surrounding the HD video mode about this camera. While it captures stunning HD video, it also reaffirms my initial belief that videographers and their very expensive gear and extensive training will NOT be replaced by HD video capable SLRs in the hands of most photographers. Thank goodness! However, as an SLR I'm VERY impressed with the new Canon 5D Mark II and cannot wait to get mine in April! And you can bet I will probably try to master the video mode on it anyway because as everyone knows, I still love playing with video, and I kind miss flying a Steadicam =)

UPDATE:

In summary, I feel that wedding photographers that want to achieve the stellar cinematography we're seeing on the web created by the 5D2 should take some classes, find an instructor/mentor/tutor/editor, or just get some good training on video/film/cinematography. Otherwise, leave wedding videography to the experts. You can point & shoot your video and it'll still look great, but to really get that "look", you'll need more than that =)

Thanks to those who commented already, especially "Denver"! Please read his comment, he's got some good insight.

My Season is About to Begin!

2009-03-20T08:02:00.008-04:00

With several engagement sessions ahead starting next weekend I am totally stoked about this year's wedding season. I have some of the best couples and amazing weddings to share with you this year! In the meantime, I'm going to try & enjoy myself with friends & family over the next couple of weeks. After that, I'll be slamming with weddings in DC, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the Atlantis in the Bahamas. Gotta love destination weddings! My intern will be joining us this Spring as well - Becky Hayhurst from Minneapolis, really excited to have her on board, you'll be seeing more of her as the season progresses! I'm really looking forward to Reanna & Jeremy's wedding in the Bahamas where I'll be shooting some footage for my next behind-the-scenes video. My former associate Noah Hayes & I will have our Flip Mino HD's and my new Canon 5D Mark II w/HD video mode. awesome! Denise will be with us to keep us out of trouble and do her logistical magic as always. 2009 is looking really good =)

Nathan's RC Truck

2009-03-17T08:54:00.006-04:00

Nate was begging me to shoot footage of him operating his old E-Maxx RC truck, so of course I did! This thing is pretty quick, even on semi-conditioned batteries. I shot this using my Flip Mino HD, then edited it on iMovie 09 with a little Garage Band track. Check it out!

I'm Assuming a New Identity...

2009-03-13T00:09:00.006-04:00

A big shout out goes to Daryl at Defiant Creative - THE coolest, hippest branding agency in the Mid-Atlantic. If you're serious about taking your brand to the next level, connect with them. http://defiantcreative.com/. Having a professional and objective party involved in developing your brand identity could enhance your business.

Just do it!

My new home page, thanks to Chris Harvey...

Shelby & Brian - Photos and Video!

2009-03-09T17:38:00.014-04:00

The weather was absolutely incredible over the weekend in Annapolis, what better time for a photo shoot! My friend & amazing photographer Natalie Franke & I had the best time photographing our friends Shelby & Brian's Lifestyle session. Yep, that's Shelby - the talented photographer behind Shelby Leigh Photography!

When it's a couple, I shoot it the same way I shoot engagement sessions. It's all about the couple and quality their time together in front of my lens, letting them be themselves and having a great time doing it. Natalie's boyfriend Hugh was kind enough to capture some Flip Mino HD video for me!

Please check out Natalie's blog post & Shelby's blog leave them some love! And enjoy the video & some of my favorites from the session.

Gotta love that soft diffused light from cloudy skies spilling straight down on your subjects' faces. Perfect flattering light!

And here's the uber talented Natalie Franke!

Grace Chou's Quick Review of Couture Books

2009-03-03T14:39:00.008-05:00

Click To Play

Album designer Grace Chou gives us her initial reactions to the one of the most talked about wedding/portrait book vendor Couture Book. Here she is at WPPI in Las Vegas giving me the scoop!

Visit Grace Chou Designs for more info about her album design service for professional photographers.

Bridal Shoot for Racheal Baxter Cook

2009-03-01T00:57:00.008-05:00

On Saturday I got some fun moments of the lovely Racheal Baxter Cook in her gorgeous wedding gown. Racheal is a manager at Grace Yoga in Richmond, VA where I spent time with over 40 other photographers showing video light methods, networking, socializing, and just having a plain good old time! My friend & photographer Tisha McCuiston & wedding planner Pauline of Elations Designs organized this big event. I had a total blast with everyone & helping photographers experiment with video light. Thanks Racheal for letting us use your incredible Yoga studio and for being our bridal model!

Despite the rain, Racheal was simply wonderful in front of the camera!

While I was there, my friend Ingrid Kaslik got this cool shot of me... I was holding my Lowel ID video light off to my left. Thanks Ingrid!

(background painting by Dennis Wymer)

And a fun little video I captured with my Flip Mino HD cam!

Vlog Update - Logos, SWAT Teams, & E-Sessions!

2009-02-27T12:28:00.008-05:00

New logo ideas, SWAT team photo op and an Engagement Session workshop with mystery models... things that make you go "hmmm" ;)

Upcoming E-Sessions in March:

Regina & Dan
Reanna & Jeremy
Sandra & Toby
"Mystery Couple", sure to be fun especially for the photography community =)

More from Vegas...

2009-02-22T08:36:00.006-05:00

I had an amazing week at WPPI in Las Vegas, the biggest Wedding & Portrait Photographers International convention! Huge trade show, dozens of workshops, and lots of parties! It was so great to catch up and hang out with old friends and make new ones in the industry. What made this trip even more worthwhile is that my personal album designer Grace Chou of Grace Chou Designs attended the convention too! We spent time reviewing so many album companies, critiquing the quality of craftsmanship, and discussing action plans and our future plans for this year's brides. In short, we got work done! But we definitely made some time for play and fun memories! Here are some photos courtesy of me from my iPhone and my good friends Kenny Kim, Tisha McCuiston, and David Escalante...

Here's one of the big DC/Baltimore dinner...plus two friends from Tampa, FL =)
Moshe Zusman, Hadar Goren, Laura Kay, Kimberly Brooke, Shelby Leigh, Kristen Leigh, Noah Hayes, Erin & Chris Harvey, (not pictured) Kristie Blake, Megan Beth, and Christine Bentley (our Orange County friend!).

Somehow I found myself at Studio Cafe 3 times while at MGM Grand, lol.
Once with the DC/Baltimore folks, once with my friends Laura Kay and Brooke Schwab. And here I am with Kristie, Bob, & Ray.

... the lovely Dawn Davis!

I had the pleasure of assisting my friends at the booth for A PORTRAIT PROJECT, Christine's vision. Here I am with Kristie & Christine. The non-profit organization effort is to provide photography for family victims of domestic violence.

A little gambling! Here's Noah, Shelby & Tiffani deep into the games... and Tisha deep into shooting as usual! Total violation of casino rules - NO PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED! Ha!

My good friend Erin Harvey of http://www.erinchris.com, Tampa, FL

No trip out west is complete without a stop at In-N-Out Burger!
Funny story... Asim, Tiffani, Noah, Tisha, Grace & I took two cabs to the burger joint. Only to realize we'll need cab rides back. No such luck, no cabs were around the parking lot. Asim had the bright idea of asking a random stranger for a ride back to MGM Grand. Surprisingly enough, one of the In-N-Out Burger employees was on break and his girlfriend was visiting. They were kind enough to offer us a ride back, LOL! We had a good feeling about them so none of my spidey senses were going off =) Good times!

Of course, the lovely Kristie & Christine, haha!

I was saddened I didn't get a photo with Laura Kay, not sure why we didn't think about it(?!). But I did manage to snap a pic of her dinner with my iPhone.

Grace & I working the trade show floor

Here's Grace & I chatting with Kevin Swan of http://www.kissweddingbooks.com

Haha, not sure why I was the only guy standing with the girls in this pic!

Here's one of the group & our friendly server... not really, hehe!

I seemed to be caught twittering on my iPhone 3G constantly!

Here we are losing our wages, haha!

At the big GO|BEE & PhotographyMentor party, Tiffani, Erin, Chris & I made fools of ourselves in the fun photo booth!

My friends & I got to spend some time with a group of about 100 shooters from all over the country (and world probably) having a fun night shoot with celebrity wedding photographer Bob Davis (Eva Longoria, Eddie Murphy, etc.). Here are just a few shots I got from the fun event.

We had maybe 4 models with us so we could break into groups. As you can imagine, shooting with large groups is challenging, most shots are random. Here's just one side shot I was able to get of one of the models.

We had fun shooting a couple, Roberto & Kim Valenzuela. Roberto happens to be a well-known wedding photographer based in Beverly Hills, CA.

I loved using video light to bring some depth to these shots...

Happy Birthday Jordan!!!!

2009-02-19T10:39:00.002-05:00

My girl is 2 today! I'm so happy for the little one, but she's growing too fast. We'll be throwing her a Dora The Explorer themed birthday party this Saturday with family & friends. Should be fun!

WPPI 09

2009-02-18T09:45:00.005-05:00

An eventful week at WPPI 09 so far... more to come!

(photo of photographer & friend Roberto Valenzuela & his wife in Las Vegas, NV)

Winner of Wedding Wire's Bride's Choice 2009 Awards!

2009-02-14T07:59:00.003-05:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that Armin DeFiesta Photography has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means Armin DeFiesta Photography is one of the very best wedding photographers.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

Armin DeFiesta Photography would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award! CLICK HERE to read the reviews!

And have a Happy Valentine's Day!!

Inside Southern Maryland Weddings Magazine

2009-02-13T13:36:00.009-05:00

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO VIEW THE FULL FEATURE

Kristen Leigh & I are at it again getting published in Southern Maryland Weddings.

Yes... it's from May, 2008. I'm not sure what the delay was but we're happy it made it! Click on the image above to read the full article or just click here.

Back in May 2008, I had the pleasure of shooting Jennifer & Jeff's wedding. Kristen was my trusty 2nd shooter and we somehow managed NOT to get drenched on one of the rainiest wedding days I've had. Luckily the skies cleared up just in time before the 6pm sunset ceremony!

Big thanks to Kristen Leigh who 2nd shot with me! It was so great to work with her again, we have such different shooting styles that it made for some interesting & amazing images. This is the second time we've been published together, must be working for us! Please be sure to leave her some comments on her blog! If you haven't seen it already, read more about our last wedding together in I DO FOR BRIDES magazine.

Winter Wedding Sale thru March 14th

2009-02-12T18:14:00.017-05:00

Two Week Flip Mino HD Review

2009-02-11T15:35:00.016-05:00

Two weeks of ownership and I'm still a happy owner of the Flip Mino HD by Pure Digital.

BUY ONE at B&H Photo!

PROS:

Simple to use
Great image quality
Small, very light, and convenient to carry with you anywhere
4BG hard drive, 60 minutes of video, plenty for me
Perfect companion for your laptop (works great with my MacBook Pro & iMovie 09)
Easy to transfer video to your computer with the built-in USB

CONS:

Prone to plenty of camera shake due to its diminutive size
HD files are big so it takes a while to render and upload onto the web
Digital zoom instead of a mechanical zoom
White balance is a little on the warm side, especially in low light
Wishing it had a wider angle lens like the Creative VADO video camera

The video below was shot after 3 or 4 test videos under my belt. My goal was to operate it and capture the smoothest tracking shots possible on such a small camera. I pretty much tried to make my arms work like a Steadicam device by walking a certain way (e.g., the Groucho walk) and isolating my arm muscles from the rest of my body. Yeah it sounds complicated but with a little practice it's easy to do. In terms of my handling and operation of the camera, this result was an improvement over my initial tests. This video was compressed down to 129mb (720p HD) to make uploading faster on the web so it might look a little grainy than the original. The original file is 450mb.

If you're looking into a pocket HD video camera, you can't go wrong with the Flip Mino HD, the Creative Vado or the Kodak zi6. Google the reviews on comparisons and decide which one you feel is best for you. Each has their pros & cons. Check out more of my Flip Mino in action in the blog post just before this one.

I will be in Vegas starting this weekend so stay tuned for some HD video from Sin City!

UPDATE:
It was a balmy 70 degrees today, so we couldn't help but enjoy some playtime again outside! I was able to upload the original file of this video (374mb).

Fun with My Mino HD at the P.U.G. Meeting

2009-02-10T10:14:00.007-05:00

Last night I met up with some friends at our monthly D.C. Pictage Users Group (PUG) meeting in Bethesda, MD. It was a chance to play around with my Flip Mino HD, I got a few minutes of fun "shaky" footage. Have fun watching, lol!

The simplicity of the Mino is just wonderful. While anything is possible with this tiny camera, don't think for a second this is the budget answer to shooting your next cinematic masterpiece. It's not made for that. The image quality is pretty nice at 720p, but the white balance is a little warm for my tastes. The lens is fixed and at one focal length. It has a digital zoom, not a mechanical zoom. Handholding something this tiny can result in camera shake as you can tell. Just minimize your movement as much as possible and your shots should be fine. And if you have iMovie 09, their new image stabilization feature might help.

One last thing about HD. Great image quality, but eats up lots of space on your hard drive. And when you export a movie file, it's a BIG file. I'm storing all my personal videos on my SmugMug account. Can't wait to shoot more with this!

25 Random Facts & Thoughts From Armin

2009-02-09T08:59:00.009-05:00

This Top 25 list of random facts & thoughts have been going around Facebook. After dozens of friends tagging me to participate I gave in. As most of you know I HARDLY participate in these random surveys, I prefer to keep some things to myself. BUT I figured a little sharing won't hurt.

The rules are that once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

TOP 25:

1. Speed is fun, particularly fast cars and cars that can handle really well. I love carving the hilly back roads. My personal favs are the BMW 3 series and the Subaru WRX cars.

2. I love the automobile, some of my friends say I'm a walking automobile encyclopedia. It's only because I read Motor Trend, Edmunds.com, and a whole list of other car stuff. Although I'm a little rusty these days.

3. I wanted to be a record producer when I was a kid and drool over mixing consoles, although I haven't touched one in years!

4. I love carving the roads with my Subaru WRX. Next to my friend's 2004 BMW M3, it's one of the most fun cars I've ever driven. If you'd like me to test drive your car to ensure it meets the manufacturer's claims, call me ;)

5. These lists are silly, I'm only doing it because too many of my FB friends are bugging me to.

6. I was almost shot by a gang banger who was armed with a .38 revolver 10 yards away. That was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

7. Dark chocolate is my weakness, it's my kryptonite. If it's within 10 feet I feel very weak and need to consume a piece of it in order to regain my superhero strength.

8. Oh about #6, I was not a rival gangbanger. I was with cop '97 to '03 and chasing the dude down. I really thought he was going to fire, but I raised my Glock to the firing position and he thought twice =)

9. I took piano lessons growing up, I was classically trained.

10. I've seen things many of you will never ever see in your lifetime, and most of them were bad.

11. My wife, son & daughter are the best things in my life, words cannot describe my love for them.

12. I am blessed to be doing what I do for a living. I am happier and more fulfilled than when I was working for others. It would be hard to go back.

13. I share my wife's love for pizza! Although we haven't had it in a long time, lol.

14. I get to shoot some of the most amazing weddings of amazing couples around the country. I love my job, http://www.armindefiesta.com!

15. I love watching my son grow up, he's going to be a wonderful adult one day =) He'll be 7 this year.

16. My guy friends that have daughters told me that if I ever have a little girl of my own they can do no wrong... I totally get it now. Jordan's my little angel. I'm going to be a mess on her wedding day.

17. Traffic & congestion is my enemy, lol. I make an effort to plan my day & timing around known congested roadways and peak hours. I got it down to a science =)

18. I never got over 9/11, it really had an impact on me when I was a cop and it still does today.

19. I love helping others grow their photography business. I'm giving private workshops now and plan on launching a larger scale workshop in 2 years.

20. I like to do donuts in snow covered empty parking lots when no one is watching. Sometimes I have my kids with me and they love it.

21. Our future is still unwritten, but I have a strange feeling ours will have some good fortune.

22. The lines from Star Wars, Ep IV are engrained in my head. I think I watched it 1000 times as a kid.

23. I have to agree with my wife on HER #17 & 21 on her TOP 25 ;)

24. ... is the number of one of my favorite NASCAR drivers. Do YOU know who I'm talking about? Go ahead, hate away, lol. 4 Championships ain't nothing to sneeze at!

25. I believe the Mid-Atlantic has some of the most talented wedding & portrait photographers around. The world is in for a surprise.

Ah what a rough life ....

2009-02-05T07:33:00.007-05:00

... need I say more? =)

(taken with my iPhone 3G, I love that thing! Yup that's my angel, I'm gonna be a mess when I walk her down the aisle)

On another topic I got to spend time with my friend & photographer Kristie Blake. We had fun talking business, photography, kids, life, and everything in between. We'll be at the WPPI "A Portrait Project" booth in Las Vegas so stop on by!

I snapped an iPhone photo of her ordering us lunch... she's not one to wanna be in front of the lens so it was a lucky shot =)

Follow Your Passion

2009-01-31T18:32:00.015-05:00

I was watching an Oprah Winfrey show recently where she interviewed some very successful and rather young entrepreneurs. Tony Hsieh, CEO of the very successful online shoe store Zappos.com valued at $100 million, and Gurbaksh Chahal, founder of BlueLithium, which Yahoo bought for $300 million. And of course the Olsen Twins. You can check out the slideshow here.

And it's not the money that drew me into the show, it was their stories and the passion they have for what they do that really grabbed my attention. While the money they earned was a bonus, it was not the primary driver. The pure enjoyment of doing what they do is what brought them to where they are now.

Success is defined so differently for so many people. Some define it with material possessions, some define it with personal fulfillment. I think the latter is what drives me, and is by far the more healthier way to go (mentally & spiritually). I love my business and my career because I am passionate about growing it, about photography, and about delivering the best service experience. Sure, if you own & operate a multi-million dollar business, that's great. But if you're not passionate about it, what's the point? Maybe you're passionate about money, lol =)

Here are some things to think hard about for those wanting to go the entrepreneural route:

Find your passion. Even if it's not a big money maker, you'll be happier and more fulfilled than any million dollar account could make you.
Think outside the box. Identify & market your unique selling proposition that makes you stand out in your chosen industry.
Network, network, network. As you've heard before, your network is your net worth. Surround yourself with a good team of associates, colleagues, businesses, and services that can help grow your business.
Deliver an experience, not just good service. Think of ways you can give your clients more than they expect. Ways that you can still reap the value of your worth and price point, but still able to deliver a strong customer service experience. This positive experience will spread through the viral market of word of mouth, resulting in brand trust & brand loyalty. Wouldn't you like your customers to evangelize for you? =) It's a powerful thing, especially in my industry.
Never rest on your laurels. Always strive to improve, enhance, and grow your business and yourself. The world changes, you must change with it or stay ahead of it. There's always more to learn so continue to challenge & educate yourself. Complacency could lead to failure. Reinvent, refresh =)

Those are just some of my thoughts on the matter and how I challenge myself to do business. If you have anything to add, please share in your comments below! Thanks for visiting =)

Wedding Album Layout Example

2009-01-29T14:12:00.004-05:00

What better way to show you than video... check it out...

Some tips on album care:

Store it flat to protect the spine
Don't rest anything heavy on the book or the leather will dent
Don't get the pages wet. If you do, dry them quickly and let the book dry before closing it.
Extreme heat & humidity will affect the book (not so fun where we live!)
Store it in a dry, moderately cool place.
If you get something on the pages, you can try to get it off with Goo-Gone, just let it dry before closing the books.

Dancing President

2009-01-29T10:22:00.004-05:00

We have a new President to have fun with so let's get busy. Let's start with Iman Crosson's fabulous impersonation of him and showing off some moves, LOL!

From a Father to a Daughter...

2009-01-27T18:07:00.001-05:00

"It's never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit. Start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you're not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again. - Eric Roth, from the Screenplay of "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button"

DC Regional/East Coast Photographer GetToGether Event '09

2009-01-25T19:59:00.023-05:00

Organizer: Armin DeFiesta
Hosts: Armin DeFiesta & Julia MacInnis
Date: January 24, 2009
Location: Julia MacInnis' Crib, Alexandria, VA

The Mission:
To build & strengthen relationships by meeting & networking with other area photographers on the east coast/mid-atlantic area in an effort to open communication channels, expand referral sources, discuss marketing & branding strategies, and elevate the east coast as a photographic force of talent.

Mission Status: In progress!

50 of some of the best wedding & portrait photographers on the east coast from Richmond to Baltimore and Ashburn to Annapolis gathered in Alexandria, VA just outside D.C. to attend this organized event co-hosted by me & my good friend Julia MacInnis who we all thank from the bottom of our hearts for welcoming all of us into her home!

This large showing of photographers is unheard of. To be honest I didn't anticipate the guest list to grow this big, maybe 20-25 tops! Viral marketing play a major role here, and while I enjoyed the response and enthusiasm, GTGs this large will be rare in the future. I plan on holding smaller meets of maybe 10 or less. That said, I think another reason for this large showing is the time of the year. January is typically a slow season for wedding & portrait photographers, especially in our region.

I cannot begin to thank everyone enough for their support, participation, and all the delicious light fare we all brought to the table! Awesome job guys!

Here is a list of the information brought up during my Keynote presentation:

HINGE (Pivotal Branding) - Hinge, a Reston, Virginia-based consultancy specializing in helping professional service firms conceive and build pivotal brands. Visit us on the web at www.pivotalbrands.com.
David Beckstead, Becker, Mike Colon, SOTADzine, Gene Higa, Kenny Kim, Jesh de Rox, Bob Davis, Yervant, Ryan Schembri, John Michael Cooper
Thirst Relief
YourElevation
Armin's Keynote Presentation
Another take on the power of video!

Enjoy some captures from the event! Here's THE BIG PICTURE!

PHOTO BY JULIA MACINNIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Here I'm talking about Kenny Kim's Thirst Relief T-Shirts for sale. A portion of the proceeds go to Thirst Relief. Visit Kenny's Facebook page for more info on how to purchase them!

A few more fun ones by Julia MacInnis. All photos used with permission of course, unless watermarked or showing photo credit.

Bill Black has quite the sense of humor =)

Kip Pierson & Sarah Hodzic had an intense Air Hockey battle complete with battle scars!

The area's newest young talent, Natalie Franke!

"Veteran" GTG girls, Kimberly Brooke & Shelby Leigh

Tiffani Sunshine, Marta Locklear, Tisha McCuiston and several other folks made the trek from Richmond to take part in this event. Here I am with Tiffani.

Yup, that's our hostess Julia rocking the wig! PHOTO BY INGRID KASLIK

And of course they made me do it too =)

Troy Woods, Jeff Wilson & Jennifer Hunter were among the guests

Nicole Wolf of SOTADzine. She'll soon be elevating her level of success up a notch ;)

Of course our lovely Julia!

There were so many pictures I just can't post anymore so I'll stop right here. Check out the fun slideshow I put together and the short video clip captured by Noah's Flip Mino videocamera.

Photos by Kristie Blake, Ingrid Kaslik, Noah Hayes, Bill Black, Moshe Zusman, & Julia MacInnis. Video was actually test footage, Noah just bought the Flip Mino HD and we were just messing around with it, hence the random footage. He even caught trying to play the piano! pretty cool gadget though!

Published in I DO FOR BRIDES

2009-01-23T13:04:00.008-05:00

Last summer my friend Kristen Leigh asked me to second shoot with her at Hadiya & Akeel's wedding at Brookside Gardens in Maryland, just outside D.C.. A few months later Kate Parrott from I Do For Brides for the DC, Maryland & Virginia issue magazine contacted me about the photos after coming across them in my blog. This was weird because it was not my wedding as a primary shooter, but my blog gets a lot of traffic and Google ranks it well. Kate thought it would make a great featured wedding, so I put her in touch with Kristen to finalize the process. Kristen was so kind enough to allow Kate to give me photo credit as well. You rock girl! Be sure to visit Kristen's blog and mine to see more photos. What's interesting is Kristen & I have different shooting styles & post-processing methods. While we both specialize in a photojournalistic approach, our brands are quite different. This results in a unique combination of images I must say. We really enjoy working together and will continue to back each other up in a pinch! The wedding & our photos are on pages 74-75 of I Do For Brides MD/DC/VA Winter/Spring 2009 issue. Check out our featured wedding below...

I Wonder If This Will Ever Happen Here in D.C.'s Union Station?

2009-01-22T14:00:00.004-05:00

... turn it up y'all! ;)

Thanks T-Mobile =)

White House Official Photographer, Pete Souza and Sen. Bennett's Quote About Wedding Photography =)

2009-01-20T10:55:00.022-05:00

Whether you are a supporter or not of the new President, whether you agree or disagree with the policies & agendas, you can't help but appreciate the impact of today's historical Inauguration. Denise, Jordan & I were glued to CNN and enjoyed observing this morning's festivities down at the National Mall & US Capitol during the swearing in ceremony. It was simply amazing to watch the historic event today that was happening 20 minutes away from my house. The crowds stretched 2 miles from the Capitol building all the way to the Lincoln Memorial! If Jordan was older, she, Denise & I would've been up and on the Metrorail by 4am! The crowds were incredible, the energy level was contagious. And after hearing day after day about all the planning that went into this event, it was overwhelming seeing it all come together. As a photographer, it's my job to document historic moments in my client's family history - their wedding day. So I have an understanding of how important it must be for the chief White House photographer to be documenting historic moments in our nation's history.

Pete Souza was the White House photographer for Ronald Reagan's second term, so he's no stranger to the job. He now has the honor of taking on that role again for President Barack Obama. Pete shoots with two Canon 5D's and various Canon lenses. I love my 5D =)

Ann Curry interviews Pete in this MSNBC video clip with some never before seen photos of President Barack Obama from his days as a junior Senator to the present. Watch the video and let me know what you think.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

And I'd like to close this post by something Senator Bennett of Utah said at the Inaugural luncheon. Just before presenting the Inaugural photos to President Obama Senator Bennett said, "as the father of 6, 4 of whom are girls, I've learned that the most memorable occasion, the wedding, is never solidified until the photos have been taken." He then presented the Inaugural photos to President Obama & Vice President Biden.

I have to agree with Bennett =)

HDR Fun =)

2009-01-19T21:05:00.011-05:00

During my off-season from weddings I like to work on marketing plans, business plans, networking events, and do lunch with fellow wedding vendors, including photographers! Today I had the pleasure of meeting Natalie Franke, a young new talent entering the portrait photography industry. She's also exploring the idea of adding weddings to her new business. She's got a great eye and strong business sense. Be sure to visit her site & blog and leave some comments. We will watch her career with great interest!

One thing I enjoy on my off-season is exploring photography techniques. I finally got around to experimenting with HDR, or high dynamic range photography. It simply involves taking 3 exposures of the same composed shot and layering them together to bring out details in the image that would otherwise be lost.

I set my Canon 5D's AEB (automatic exposure bracketing) to +/- 2EV. I shot handheld and steady. I recommend a tripod though =)

Exposure #1

Exposure #2 - the camera underexposes

Exposure #3 - the camera overexposes

I took all three exposures into Adobe Photoshop and ran Totally Rad Action's "Combine Exposures" action. I tweaked the layers applied to suit my taste, then adjusted the color saturation levels and contrast and got this:

Pretty cool huh?

Video Blog Updates on Leather Covers, Upcoming Events, & Choosing a Wedding Photographer

2009-01-16T09:44:00.008-05:00

A little update on KissWeddingBooks leather cover colors. Visit their KISS BOOKS page to get a closer look at the available colors. NOTE: I forgot to mention the new Virgin White leather covers are now available. And to RSVP to my Photographer GetToGether (GTG), visit my group e-vite on Facebook! I show 40 attendees in Facebook already so it's going to be big!

Now watch the video, don't mind the quality, I did this real quick!
I apologize for the email & iPhone text alerts in the background, lol.

Video Blog Update from Armin DeFiesta on Vimeo.

In Carson Kressley's video, experts from Brides.com give some tips for brides on how to choose the right wedding photographer for them. Check out another video from Carson Kressley's "Look Good In Pictures" collection!

We're Having a Baby!

2009-01-15T00:14:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of Volkswagen's Routan Babymaker3000!

... c'mon you had to know I was joking right? ;)

A Tip on How to Look Good in Wedding Pictures

2009-01-13T16:02:00.005-05:00

Carson Kressley and Susan Stripling talk about a simple tip on how to look good in wedding pictures. Now I think I do a pretty nice job with my brides capturing they're natural beauty. But sometimes working with a bride who has a sense of how to look their best in a photo puts us one step ahead and allows me to think of other things during their photo shoot. Check out Carson's video.

One Week Away! Here are some Guidelines for those visiting DC...

2009-01-12T17:51:00.003-05:00

With the historic Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama just one week away, we (DC area locals) brace ourselves for one of the largest onslaught of visitors to our region.

Here's just a small list of what to expect:

Multiple bridge closings between DC & Virginia (Holy... what??!!)
No personal vehicles allowed in the city. Only limos, buses, public trans, etc..
Over 2 million are predicted to attend the DC Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
Hotels have booked close to full around the area... yup!
Many DC businesses are planning to close on January 20th, Denise's firm Venable, LLP sure is!

Either way, it's a big deal around here. The local news talks about the developing plans every night. The Presidential Inauguration will be televised live so if we're not driving south to Florida to avoid the chaos (DVR baby!), we'll be barricading ourselves at home watching the ceremony =)

On that note, last summer I posted a rather humorous set of guidelines for our visitors to the DC area. In light of the major event just a week away, I thought it deserves an encore presentation. These guidelines ensure survival in one of the most congested areas in the country. Okay, put on your sense-of-humor hats for this one! I think the locals and those who've lived in the DC region can REALLY appreciate this post!

For those who plan to visit our area, here are a few rules to follow...

First, you must learn to call it by its rightful name. It is DC or 'the District' - only tourists call it Washington.
Next, if your road map of Montgomery County is more than a few weeks old, throw it out and buy a new one. It's obsolete. If you are in Loudon or Fairfax County and your map is one day old, it's already obsolete.
There is no such thing as a dangerous high speed chase in D.C. It's just another chase, usually on the BW Parkway (although lately the Beltway has taken the title)
All directions start with 'The Beltway'... which has no beginning and no end, just one continuous loop that locals believe is somehow clarified by an 'inner' and 'outer' loop designation. This makes no sense to ANYONE outside the area.
The morning rush hour is from 5 to 11 AM. The evening rush hour is from 1 to 8 PM. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning, especially during the summer on Route 50 eastbound. Avoid the Chesapeake Bay Bridge unless you pack a lunch (possibly dinner too).
If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear-ended and shot at. If you run the red light, be sure to smile for the $100 'picture' you will receive courtesy of DMV. (However, if you don't go as soon as the light turns green, you will get cussed out in 382 languages.)
Rain causes an immediate 50 point drop of IQ in drivers. Snow causes an immediate 100 point drop in IQ and a rush to the nearest Giant or Safeway for toilet paper, bread, and milk.
Construction on I-270 is a way of life and a permanent source of scorn and cynical entertainment. It's ironic that it's called an 'Interstate', but runs only from Bethesda to Frederick. (Unless you consider Montgomery County another state, which some do). Opened in the 1960's, it has been torn up and under reconstruction ever since. Also, it has a 'Spur' section which is even more confusing.
All unexplained sights are explained by the phrase, 'Oh, we must be in Takoma Park or Silver Spring'.
If someone actually has their turn signal on, they are by definition, a tourist. Car horns are actually 'Road Rage' indicators. Please heed the warning.
All old ladies in Buicks have the right of way in the area of Leisure World & Ryderwood.
Many roads mysteriously change their names as you cross intersections. Don't ask why, no one knows. And despite what MapQuest or Expedia or Google Maps tell you, there are no roads actually named 'Local Road'.
If asking directions in Arlington, Langley Park, Wheaton or Adams Morgan, Spanish helps. If in Annandale, Cambodian or Vietnamese will come in handy. If in DuPont Circle, Capital Hill or U Street Corridor areas, tolerance for same sex helps. If you stop to ask directions in South East... well, just don't.
Traveling south out of DC on Interstate 395/95 is the most dangerous, scariest thing you will ever do. This traverses a stretch of roadway locally referred to as The Mixing Bowl. But once you get past it, you can sit & relax...literally... because of the bumper-to-bumper traffic that seems to never go away just south of Springfield.
There is nothing more comforting than seven lanes of traffic cruising along at 85 mph, BUMPER TO BUMPER!!! (Truer words have never been written!)
The minimum acceptable speed on the Beltway is 85. Anything less is considered down right sissy. If police are present, then 55 are acceptable, but as soon as the police are out of view, the speed goes back to 85.
The open lane for passing on all Maryland interstates is the far right lane because no self-respecting Marylander would ever be caught driving in the 'slow' lane. Unofficially, both shoulders are fair game also.
The far left lanes on all Maryland and VA interstates are official 'chat' lanes reserved for drivers who wish to talk on their cell phones. Note: All SUVs have priority clearance to use the far left lanes at whatever speed the driver feels most comfortable multi-tasking in.
The Beltway is our daily version of a NASCAR reality show. Strap up and collect points as you go. Baltimore's Beltway is a kiddie ride compared to ours.

There you have it! Hope you got a laugh!

What's an E-MAXX?

2009-01-10T17:31:00.006-05:00

... This is an E-MAXX by Traxxas.Com!

I've actually had this RC truck for a while, haven't touched it in years until now. We were cleaning out the closet this weekend and decided to let Nate give it a spin. I've broken many parts back in the day just bashing this thing. And I did some light custom work to the suspension making it ride slightly lower for better handling. So we charged up the batteries and took it outside hoping it'd still run. Nate's already a great driver so I figured this would be easy for him... and it was. With a top speed of up to 20 mph with a pair of 6 cell Ballistic batteries. He loves this thing. The clutch sounds like it needs some work and the chassis could use a good cleaning. But overall it's operational for some more driving. I guess we're keeping it a little longer. Not to mention it's fun practicing my panning & tracking shots!

Nate's legs, not mine =)

Grace Chou Designs Coming Soon! Meet her at WPPI!

2009-01-07T08:55:00.003-05:00

Fellow photographers, are you bogged down by album design? Looking to outsource that important task to a custom album designer? I am with you, and my search for the perfect person for my album business is over - Grace Chou Designs!

Meet Grace at WPPI in Las Vegas in February! Grace & I will be hanging out and meeting all the album vendors and shooting some behind-the-scenes footage & interviews. Ask her anything you want about album design and her process.

She'll be launching her website very soon, www.gracechoudesigns.com. In the meantime, visit her new blog GraceChouDesigns.blogspot.com. You've seen Grace's work before on my blog. No two custom designs are alike, each layout is a one-off. She offers both standard (template) & custom layouts. Contact her for more info & pricing. chou.grace@gmail.com.

Grace's creative & professional service ensures dependable results that your clients will love! I trust her work to deliver the best and meet my high standards.

Goodbye 08! Hello 09, I don't wanna be a rock star!

2009-01-05T01:08:00.010-05:00

2008 was such an incredible and challenging year. From the sad economy to the historic Obama event, life outside wedding photography was dynamic to say the least. A HUGE thanks goes out to my 2008 wedding clients who helped make 08 a memorable one!! As for 2009, I got some incredible weddings coming up that I cannot wait to shoot!

Something interesting has happened over the last few years in the wedding industry. Wedding photography is now "cool". Yep, the days of boring & cranky wedding photographers are coming to an end. A new breed and new world of thinking is on the horizon consisting of eager shooters, magnetic personalities, and savvy business minds. The "Rockstar" Mentality of the wedding photography industry has really made an impact on my business, good & bad.

The GOOD:

Wedding photography is now "cool" these days and taken much more seriously, especially on the east coast (our west coast friends have been on this track a while longer). It focuses more on the couple's love story, lifestyle and the big day the way it truly unfolds.
The value of wedding photography is steadily increasing as brides become more educated about the difference between a paid picture taker and a high-end service experience with the right photographer that fits the big picture of their dream wedding (haha, pun). Expectations of great service, product, and a branded experience are rising.
The "rock stars" of our industry have educated & inspired so many new photographers to pursue their dreams through workshops, tradeshows, and online forums & social media. This has resulted in a revolution where more guards are being dropped and more doors are being opened. Knowledge sharing and helping one another succeed as wedding photographers is becoming common behavior & practice, not to mention fun!

The BAD:

The dream of charging $20,000 to $50,000 a wedding like Mike Colon or Denis Reggie is now every new wedding photographer's goal. No it's not quite that simple folks! And if your ONLY goal is to earn big bucks shooting weddings, just remember to keep your head on straight and give yourself a reality check.
Wedding photography (photography in general) is way more cool now that anyone with a good eye can purchase a SLR and a couple lenses these days and say, "hey I'm a photographer and I'll shoot your wedding, that'll be $3000 please" .... thanks Ashton Kutcher, thank you very much.
The "rock star wedding photog" mentality is a joke. It's amazing how sponsors are hyping up these folks to a level of celebrity & stardom.

Let me elaborate more on #3. Last year a little trade show presented a recognition piece for over a dozen up & coming wedding & portrait photographers with the full rock concert treatment. Fancy lighting, Jon Bon Jovi music, and a smoke machine.... yes a smoke machine! A little over-the-top I must say. Don't get me wrong, the trade show was fun and educational and very social, I had a blast! And with all due respect, these photographers deserve all the recogition in the world. They've paid their dues, done their time, and earned some accolades. But the rock star treatment? Is this the perception they really want to create? Was this the photographers' idea or the sponsors'? Back to reality folks. As a good friend of mine once said, "It's just wedding photography for crying outloud." =) Don't get me wrong, there IS some amazing wedding art work out there that deserves to be recognized for sure.

So for all my aspiring photographers out there, here are two pieces of advice:

1. Click on THIS LINK & carefully read the Post article about DC Wedding Photojournalist, Matt Mendolsohn.

2. Do it not because you want to be the next celebrity wedding photographer, do it because you love shooting. Let your passion for life, history, and photography come together to motivate you to share your god given talent with the world & find a way to make a living doing it. And if you are a savvy business person and market yourself to the high-end client, by all means go for it. Just don't lose sight with why you're there to begin with. Greed & envy only leads to emptiness & regret. Besides, if you want to earn big bucks and rise to celebrity status, there might easier ways to do that, lol =)

Let me leave you with this song by Nickelback, "Rockstar"

FACEMODE for Brides! A Grace Ormonde Vendor Spotlight

2009-01-02T11:11:00.009-05:00

As you noticed I've been taking some time doing what I can to help my brides this year bring some peace of mind to their wedding by recommended wedding planners, venues, and makeup artists. Introducing DC Makeup Artist Kelley Epps-Woods, owner of Facemode for Brides!

My friend Kelley IS Facemode! This super talented young lady is not only the lovely wife of another good photographer friend of mine, Troy Woods, but she is also a platinum listed vendor in Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style Magazine where brides can find some of the most elite in our industry. Check out her listing and visit her blog!

Kelley in action!

And one of the images of a gorgeous bride, Megan, that I was given permission to publish by my photographer friend Kerry Gastley =)
Photo by Kerry Gastley

Vendor Spotlight - Wish Special Events & Video Blog

2008-12-31T08:55:00.007-05:00

DC Wedding Planner Wish Special Events rocks the world of wedding planning! Laura Auer is not only an awesome friend and a super wedding planner, her company is also one of Washingtonian Magazine's top wedding event planning vendors, Congrats Laura! Get to know her better by visiting her blog where she shares some great tips and ideas on planning your wedding. And when you're ready to gain peace of mind for your big day, hire Laura to ensure everything goes the way you imagined it would.

Earlier this week we met for lunch at Whole Foods at the East Market in Fair Lakes where I proceeded to douse her with my surprisingly carbonated raw energy grape drink! I had no idea it was carbonated and it just exploded, would've made a great video. Actually, the table got the worst of it. No wedding planners or photographers were injured in that stunt. I cleaned up the mess right away. Now watch her sweet blog post showing her FIRST ever video blog, inspired by yours truly, lol =)

Thanks Laura! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Vendor Spotlight on Crystal Jo Makeup - Book Now for the Inaugural Ball!

2008-12-30T10:28:00.006-05:00

A big day in history is fast approaching, yes I'm talking about the Inauguration less than one month away! I know many of you will be participating or attending the big Inaugural Ball. So LOOK YOUR BEST by hiring one of the best, Crystal Jo Makeup.

Check this out, my friend Crystal is booking makeup appointments for the Inaugural Ball. If interested contact her at crystalj81@gmail.com. Crystal is super talented and so great and easy to work with, check out her work on her website. And YES she also works with brides!

http://crystaljomakeup.com/

Learn more about the talented MUA on Shelby Leigh's blog! Yep, they're sisters =) I put up some pictures of Crystal in action here (courtesy of Shelby).

Contact Crystal soon because her calendar will fill up fast!

Becky's Maternity Session

2008-12-30T05:26:00.003-05:00

I recently had the privilege of capturing some special moments for fellow photographer Becky & her husband Michael who are expecting their first baby in February 2009. Only 7 more weeks! Becky looked radiant! The couple is so excited about the new addition to the family. We shot indoors & outdoors and were fortunate to have a mild 53 degree temperature to work with, which is strange considering it was below zero last week! Thanks Becky for calling on me to help mark a milestone in your family history.

Should I ??

2008-12-29T08:43:00.004-05:00

My son has a Jeep like this one... and this happens to be his cousin Dominic driving HIS modified souped up Power Wheels Jeep in the video. Yep, before my brother headed to Iraq for his 2nd tour, he modified Dominic's Power Wheels Jeep. A battery upgrade increased speed from 5 to 8.1mph. It now has LED headlights and old bike tires wrapped around the front wheels to add traction and cause the back to spin out better - yes! ... ah soooo tempting, lol. Should I do the same? ;)

Love it!

Jordan's Working on Getting Her Drivers License

2008-12-28T10:38:00.009-05:00

So I'm a Power Wheels dad, yes indeedy! Nate has his own Power Wheels JEEP so I decided Jordan's ready to be introduced to her own set of wheels, a Dora Lil' Quad from Santa! Needless to say our garage is officially overcrowded! It's taking her some getting used to, but I think in a month or two she'll grow more comfortable with it.

Nate showed her the acceleration button =)

And away she went!

And decided to be daring and stand & drive, lol

The Importance of Sharing - Thanks Becker for the Shout Out!

2008-12-20T20:44:00.010-05:00

Orange County, CA wedding photographers [b]ecker & Joe Photo talk about the significance of networking & sharing with other photographers and how it can have a positive impact on your business. I could not agree more! Gone are the days of cutthroat competition among wedding photographers. Today things have changed and the DC area is on the verge of something new. There is a group of wedding photographers that have gone from strangers to good friends that refer each other work, share ideas, and hang out just to have fun and learn from one another. I'm proud to be part of this change! I hope to help elevate the DC area as a place to find some of the best in the business.

Check out the video from Becker's blog where he & Joe Photo talk about this very subject... oh and at about the 7:40 mark, Becker mentions DC & some dude "Armin" and how he's trying to make a difference ;)

Password is: bcool

[b]ecker chats with Joe Photo from Ron Dawson on Vimeo

Visit Becker's blog to see more and the HILARIOUS video of him & Jessica Claire! If you're a fan of Jessica, it's worth a look!

And if you're new to wedding photography, connect with me on Facebook & join my group to stay in the loop of all our local get-togethers I host every other month!

AND also join & connect with me inside Becker's B SCHOOL to really kick your network into high gear ... your network IS your net worth!

https://thebschool.com/

RE-branding! ;)

2008-12-19T11:31:00.009-05:00

You know I can't close this week out without some cynical humor in these trying times

C'mon have a laugh, you know you wanna ;)

Getting in the spirit of things

2008-12-18T10:20:00.003-05:00

I hope to shoot some more holiday lighting extravaganzas soon, here's a couple for starters.

I'll do anything for my clients, even it means a little injury!

2008-12-17T09:09:00.004-05:00

I've seen stranger things happen .... but this was still bizarre!

iPhone Cake!

2008-12-15T22:39:00.002-05:00

Tell me this isn't a cool cake! Thanks to Mandi White for sharing this. She snapped this mobile upload shot of the groom's cake at a wedding. Way cool =)

4x4x4x4

2008-12-13T11:06:00.005-05:00

My friend Kristen tagged me to play along and put up a "4 things" blog post ... here ya go Kristen!

4 Things I Did Today:

Wrote this blog post
Taught Jordan her ABC's, she's coming along well =)
Had Cinammon Toast Crunch for breakfast
Scheduled a maternity photo session

4 Guilty Pleasures:

Dark Chocolate
My iPhone 3G

My wife ;)
Carving roads in my WRX (See ad below)

Subaru WRX STi v. Ford Musting Shelby GT

4 Random Facts About Me:

I love the movies but rarely go anymore (yay for Netflix!), and if I do it's for a kids' flick with Nate =)
I'm a walking automobile encyclopedia - if I wasn't a photographer, I'd be a writer/contributor/test driver for Motor Trend magazine
Unlike Kristen, I LOVE deviled eggs LOL
I'm not a Sci-Fi nerd, but I totally dig Star Trek TNG and the Star Wars saga. Looking forward to the new Star Trek prequel directed by J.J. Abrams! Check out the kick-ass trailer below...and yes that's Zachary Quinto (a.k.a. "Sylar" on Heroes) as the young Spock.

4 People to tag to do the same "4 things" post:

Michelle & Jared's Album Spread

2008-12-12T08:31:00.003-05:00

Check out this awesome design spread by Grace Chou for Michelle & Jared's wedding album. I love her unique take on designs using background images, fades, and one-off layouts. These are panoramic spreads that will fit Michelle's 10x10 Kiss Wedding Book.

Caitlin & Troy's Album

2008-12-11T10:16:00.006-05:00

Thanks so much to Douglas Armstrong at Whitehall Manor and Caitlin & Troy for letting me shoot a great wedding for them. Here's a slideshow of their album layout showing the panoramic spreads for their 10x10 Kiss Wedding Book.

If you're gonna run from the law, pick a faster vehicle =) LOL!

2008-12-09T18:36:00.004-05:00

I'm posting this because I love this stuff, I still harbor some fascination with these type of events.

So the latest multi-jurisdictional police chase happened today when MD State Police ran a truck driver's ID at a weigh station in Hyattstown, MD. Vernon Jones knew he was wanted for attempted murder so he used a false SSN which the Troopers soon found out. At that point Jones decided to beat feat outta there leading MSP, Montgomery Co PD, Fairfax Co PD & VA State Police on a chase which ended near the Tysons Galleria Mall in Virginia (looks like somewhere near or on Westpark Drive). No one was injured and there were no known crashes that I know of. Now you'd think Jones would've wanted a faster vehicle to run from police, but I guess he was using what he had so the trailer had to do, LOL! Eventually stop sticks deployed by police blew out his front tire(s) making it very difficult to control the truck.

Anyway, read the full story & check out the Chopper 4 video =)

Cool things come in small packages!

2008-12-09T17:47:00.004-05:00

Things are getting smaller & more compact these days. Remember the boom boxes that were as big as your carry on luggage and played cassette tapes? Then it slimmed down to the "old" Sony Walkman, and now these days it's the Apple's iPod.

Well now even today's exercise equipment has shrunk down to the size of an ottoman! Check out the FITNESS CUBE!

http://fitnesscube.domyos.com/EN/

Fire

2008-12-05T22:05:00.003-05:00

Winter has officially started in our household. What better indicator than a lit fireplace to warm things up? Only thing missing were some marshmallows =)

I set my ISO high around 1600, at f/2.8, and 1/6000 shutter speed. Staring at the flames frozen in time is like looking at clouds... your imagination starts to wander and you start to see things.

What do YOU see?

At the top of the flame I see some sort of mystical creature, almost dragon-like

Here I see another creature at the top of the flame, mouth wide open with a very long neck. That dark line in the middle of the "head" is the flume handle

At the top of this flame I see a jumping dolphin ... cool! =)

In this image it looks like two birds stretching upwards as if to receive food ... is it just me?

And finally, on the left I see what looks like a bird leaving its fiery nest!

I'm A Proud Godfather

2008-12-02T18:39:00.004-05:00

My goddaughter Kim, a JMU student, was in this years Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Check out her marching band's video segment from the event! Kim is one of the Dukettes, cute filipina chick with long brown hair ... yeah anyway, I'm so proud! Gosh they grow up fast!

(Kim is in the top row, 2nd from the left)

And the video...

CLICK HERE TO WATCH IN HIGH QUALITY

Deleted Scenes

2008-11-29T20:28:00.006-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

This evening while I was relaxing in my living room with Dora the Explorer on TV (Jordan's a big fan lol) and Denise out to a party with some friends from work, I got to thinking about the extra footage from my video that ended up on the proverbial cutting room floor. So I thought why not create a deleted scenes clip! This has some spontaneous moments, nothing spectacular, but just some more insight into what I was thinking when producing this video. I experimented with a few video FX just for fun as well. All this was done in iMovie. If you haven't seen the final result, be sure to check it out on my blog or my website!

Enjoy! =)

New Promo Video on My Website

2008-11-25T08:59:00.007-05:00

Hello readers & loyal followers! I added the promo video everyone was waiting for! Get a raw look behind the scenes of me at work. Check out my website or just play it here. Enjoy =)

Kristie & Corey's "Day-After" Session

2008-11-24T00:04:00.004-05:00

Kristie, Corey and I braved the cold and blustery temperatures to capture some post-wedding images, a.k.a. "day-after sessions". The autumn afternoon light was perfect and the couple was so awesome to work with as always. Enjoy a few favorites!

Albums, Albums, Albums!

2008-11-20T14:00:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year we're designing & ordering wedding albums. Here's a GREAT video made my DoodleDoo, an album design company, unboxing a KISS Wedding Book - one of my FAVORITE wedding album vendors. I think anyone who's curious about album design & delivery will find this video helpful =)

Note to clients: Albums are known to last a lifetime, maybe even several lifetimes if cared for. They are also known to warp, even high quality professional books such as these. This can occur over time, under very humid conditions, dry conditions, and through the seasons. It's dependent on how you care for the album, how you store it, etc.. It's recommended you store it flat. As you watch the video, DoodleDoo addresses handling & care at 11 min & 55 sec.

DVD Folio by Neil Enterprises

2008-11-18T11:15:00.004-05:00

Ted Suss at Neil Enterprises sent me a really nice sample of his Supreme DVD Folio. This is a great package for disc presentation to your clients. Durable & thick, it should make for a lasting keepsake. Check them out in Las Vegas at WPPI in February of 2009!

Jessica & Austin's Wedding

2008-11-16T22:34:00.005-05:00

Jessica & Austin tied the knot over the weekend at the Mormon Temple. They were one of the most fun couples I've worked with this year! We were expecting rain, but were blessed with some partly cloudy skies to capture some fun portraits. Their charm really made this session a memorable one.

Thanks so much Jess & Austin for letting me capture an important part of your lives!

Shooters Invade National Harbor

2008-11-14T22:58:00.004-05:00

My friends & fellow wedding/portrait photographers got together with me and spent some time at National Harbor to share ideas, sharpen skills, and build partnerships. These get-togethers are meant to be FUN while learning, networking, and just being with others that share the same passion for photography. It's not a workshop (it's free to attend!), not necessarily "professional" or formal (we're a laid back bunch), and definitely not stuffy or an uptight group. So if you're a professional or amateur, contact me or join my FACEBOOK group to stay on top of the latest news and updates on when our next get-togethers will be!

One of my clients & bride-to-be, Maggie, was gracious enough to be our model for the afternoon. Of course we also snapped some fun shots of each other! We later had dinner at Fuddruckers in Alexandria and really had fun winding down. If you're already on FACEBOOK, you can see more photos from the day & evening there. We had a totally rockin' time!

Caitlin & Troy's Whitehall Wedding

2008-11-10T18:42:00.008-05:00

Caitlin & Troy had a gorgeous wedding on a chilly but beautiful fall afternoon. The sunset ceremony at Historic Whitehall Manor was incredible with the autumn sunlight spilling all around the couple & their guests. Their families & friends were some of the most welcoming and warmhearted people I've ever met. It was an honor to be a small part of this awesome wedding. And I really enjoyed working with the Whitehall staff again. It's by far one of my favorite venues! A big thanks to my friend Jessica del Vecchio as my second shooter for the day!

So many great photos to go through, so I chose over 100 shots for a cool slideshow, along with a few favorite ceremony images. Check it out!

Ethan's Senior & Football Photo Op

2008-11-06T18:39:00.006-05:00

I specialize in wedding photography, but once in a while I'll get referrals for other gigs including portraits and of course, family member shoots! My nephew Ethan's last football game is tomorrow and will be graduating from high school in 09. His mom (my sis-in-law) wanted some cool photos as momentos so who am I to refuse? =)

Thank You Everyone!!

2008-11-04T21:54:00.007-05:00

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes today, especially on Facebook!!

It was a historical day for our country and a great birthday for me with my family! And as many already know, Denise gave me an early birthday gift a couple weeks ago...
I'm loving my new iPhone 3G!

Thanks Denise!

And here's a great shot taken my by good friend Kenny Kim, Chicago-based wedding photographer. This was taken inside a barber shop in Hyde Park where Barack Obama is known to get a haircut. A historic photo for sure!

Kristie & Corey's Wedding Day Slideshow

2008-11-02T21:06:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, here are the highlights from Kristie & Corey's spectacular event at Herrington Harbour Marina. Catering manager Jessica Lisbon & her incredible staff did a fabulous job keeping everything running smoothly. Sweet Sue's provided 21 awesome cakes! One main cake, plus a cake per guest table! Evan was great to work with as the video guy, and DJ Sam Badilla kept the party rockin'. The night was capped off with an impressive fireworks display and sparkler send-off. As soon as I find out who provided that service, I'll add it to this blog.

Church: Friendship United Methodist Church
Reception Venue: Herrington Harbour Marina, Jessica Lisbon
DJ: Mango's Party Production (djmango1515@verizon.net)
Videography: Evan Taff Productions
Cake: Sweet Sue's Bake Shop

A huge thanks to my good friend & wedding photographer Sarah Hodzic for braving the tough wet weather conditions with me and being my second shooter for the day!

Thanks Kristie & Corey for the chance to capture your great wedding!!

Jessica & Austin

2008-11-01T01:32:00.007-04:00

I recently met up with an awesome couple, Jess & Austin, for an engagement session at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. This good lookin' pair are having a "destination wedding" in DC this month which I look forward to covering!

Here are a couple of fun slideshows I put together. One in ShowItWeb format, the other in Animoto.com format. Animoto is an online tool that you can use quickly to throw together a slick little slideshow. ShowItWeb allows the customer to order a DVD of the slideshow, which isn't new. But what IS new is that the slideshow now lets the customer order a ShowItBook - a custom made 5x5 picture book! I am so amped about this new offering!

Enjoy the slideshows!

Just a few of my favorites from the e-session

Meghann & Curt

2008-10-31T12:16:00.002-04:00

I can't wait to shoot their wedding. These two were so active during the shoot as you'll see in the slideshow. So much going on it was too fun and I got to capture it all!

We shot these at Great Falls National Park & Reston Town Center in Virginia. Thanks guys!!

Napoleon Dynamite

2008-10-29T18:13:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I need a mental break during massive editing tasks for my awesome wedding clients. YouTube to the rescue!

And now for a couple of classic scenes from one of my favorite movies, Napoleon Dynamite =)

I don't know why, but this is such a funny scene, I guess you had to be there...

And of course, the famous dance scene

Kristie's Big Day & Bridal Session - Teaser Photos!

2008-10-26T00:34:00.009-04:00

I just wanted to take a moment and catch up on some blogging and post some killer wedding & bridal photos of Kristie & Corey.

A few weeks ago Kristie & I rocked the city of Annapolis, MD with a fun bridal session shot among the curious crowds, hot cars, Harley Davidsons, and fancy boats. Here are just a few images that gives you a sense of just how rad a bridal session can be. I like to get my brides out there and milk it for all it's worth. They've put a lot of effort and detail into their weddings, and the wedding gown is no exception. Marking that milestone of searching for and selecting the dress should be celebrated with a fun stress-free bridal session...because my bridal sessions totally rock!

Kristie just loved hamming it up!

She made all kinds of friends around town =)

The bikers were kind enough to let her have a seat!

Then came the boats... she got a Captain's attention too...

...and welcomed her aboard!

... and showed her off to passing boaters, LOL

When you're in Annapolis, you're in Naval Academy territory,
so we had to mark the occassion.

While we were roaming the streets, a group of young teens were fascinated by Kristie in her wedding gown and thought it was the coolest thing that we were shooting these!

Nothing better than the tasty late afternoon light spilling around her

Yes I had to indulge myself a little here...

We kept getting plenty of attention around every corner.
It was a beautiful day and everyone was out enjoying the weather.

Yep, Kristie "stopped" traffic!
The guy in the yellow shirt on the right was kind enough to do some traffic control for us.
Notice some of the folks in the background gawking, lol. At almost every bridal session I get asked if it's for a magazine or something. I usually say "yes" since I may submit the images to an actual magazine.

A hot car deserves a hot bride!

I love the Shelby 427 AC Cobras!!
The owner was so welcoming of the idea, I think he just wanted a photo of his car =)

One of my personal favorites...and Kristie's =)

Finally, here are just a few teaser images from their wedding. Despite the torrential downpours and strong winds, everyone had a blast! There was so much love & happiness surrounding these two! My good friend the lovely Sarah Hodzic (one of my favorite wedding photographers in the area!) joined me to second shoot. We had a great time together as always!

This image is indicative as to how crazy a fun loving and lively crowd can get at a reception!

The impressive fireworks display at the Herrington Harbour Marina wowed everyone!

Sarah & I knelt side-by-side to shoot the couple enjoying the show.
It was so great seeing these two soak it in.

And a big shout out to Kristie's parents who also celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary on the same date as Kristie & Corey's wedding. Congratulations!!!!!

More to come =)

Tiff & Mike's Slideshow

2008-10-24T12:38:00.004-04:00

Enjoy =)

To see more images, click on the SHOPPING CART icon. You can also order a new 5x5 Picture Book, just mouse over the icons and check it out!

DVD Slideshows

2008-10-22T09:15:00.004-04:00

Show It Web, developed by David Jay & his team, is a popular app some photographers use to create flash-based slideshows. We've all seen and love them. One of my favorite features about it is that you or your client can order a DVD of the slideshow. The folks at Show It DVD will produce and deliver the product in a nice package for your clients to enjoy. So when you're busy like many of us are, outsourcing this value added service is a must! If you're like me, I still like to take the time & effort customize my products as part of the grand experience I deliver. So I continue to use the sleek looking jewel boxes from JewelBoxing.com. But when efficiency is needed, Show It DVDs are the way to go. I've always received my Show It DVDs withing 10 days of ordering. Check out my video about them.

Tiffany & Mike's Wedding

2008-10-19T19:18:00.013-04:00

Tiffany & Mike are one of my most fun couples I've worked with this year. Just check out their E-Session! Denise and my second shooter for the day, Kristin Hughes, joined me to take on this big wedding. Here are some of my personal favorites...

Some quick casual shots ...

Stunning light spills over this beautiful bride. Other than resizing for the web, mild sharpening & vignetting, these are straight out of the camera. It's all about the light folks!
Nothing beats low sunlight in the sky, so tasty!

Dad couldn't help but get emotional.

The girls were a hoot! Count them... yep, 16! Here they are just hamming it up for me.

And the guys were no small group either!

Tiffany's brother was able to come back from his tour in Iraq and attend the wedding.
It was a wonderful surprise for Tiffany & her family.
Here he is looking sharp and reunited with his beautiful girlfriend.

A nice moment in the dark outside the venue

Thank you Tiffany & Mike for letting us be a part of your special day!

Stay tuned for more to come!

Jordan Laughing Her Butt Off!

2008-10-17T17:47:00.005-04:00

Jordan loves having her big brother Nate with us every week. She's always excited to see him and he always manages to get her cracking up within the first 30 minutes they're together. Here they are messing around in front of a webcam. Couldn't resist sharing another glimpse into my life =)

Alison & Dustin ... The E-Session Slideshow

2008-10-16T01:55:00.002-04:00

This has got to be one of our coolest engagement sessions. Everything from the VW Bug car to the "Exorcist" stairs in Georgetown, Erin & Noah got some great shots of Alison & Dustin. Alison's already stunning, I can only imagine how beautiful she will be on her wedding day!

Here are more amazing photos from Alison & Dustin's E-Session!

Noah also managed to catch a behind-the-scenes shot of Erin setting up the couple along the C&O canal in Georgetown.

GET LOST!

2008-10-15T10:17:00.006-04:00

Yep "GET LOST" ... That was the objective at the corn maze we went to! It was a pretty fun 50 minute walk trying to find our way out of the Maize Quest at Montpelier Farms. Denise, Jordan, Nathan & I had a great time together on the hay ride, petting zoo, and pumpkin patch. I think we spent close to 2.5 hours there.

Here's an aerial shot I took. As you can see, this maze is no joke ....

LOL, nah I'm only kidding. That's the shot from their website =)

Okay these are for real =)

Alison & Dustin ... The E-Session!

2008-10-13T20:00:00.007-04:00

My associate shooters, Erin & Noah, will be shooting Alison & Dustin's wedding next May. They kicked things off with a killer E-session in Georgetown. I'm so happy to have Alison & Dustin as my clients, they've gotta be one of the coolest couples I've ever met! Actually ALL my couples are super cool, lol. Like many of my couples, they won't be having a typical wedding, especially with Love Seed Mama Jump as their wedding band =) Be sure to check out Noah & Erin's blog posts for more kick butt images... in the meantime, here are some of my quick edits!

Tagged Again! Thanks Laura ;)

2008-10-10T19:20:00.004-04:00

My good friend and event coordinator extraordinaire, Laura Auer of Wish Special Events, tagged me to do a survey. I decided to get it done now before the busy weekend ahead, so here we go...

Four Things I Did Today:

1. Walked to Subway to grab one of their "fit" subs with Jordan on my shoulders, total round trip time - 1 hour... ugh my shoulders hurt =)
2. Updated my website with some new pics and a Bridal Session tab
3. Drove about a 1/4 mile this afternoon from point A to B that took about 35 minutes... gotta love DC area traffic!
4. Realized Labor Day is a popular time for weddings. Rock on!

Four Things on my To-Do List:

1. Edit my promo video for my website, due to launch this winter.
2. Film more footage for my promo video - client testimonials to be exact.
3. Take the kids to the pumpkin patch... probably this weekend =)
4. Plan a romantic date with my wife ... we're overdue for one lol

Four of my Guiltiest Pleasures:

1. Dark chocolate... most people know that by now, but if you don't... it's like a drug to me, lol
2. Driving fast but smooth in my AWD Subaru WRX, especially through the twisties... buckle up baby!
3. Target practice... pictures aren't just the only thing I shoot, although it's been a while since I've been to the firing range :(
4. Facebook! Does that count?

Four Random Facts About Me:

1. Both of my great grandfathers are from Spain, both of my grandmothers' fathers are from the U.K. ... somehow they all ended up in the Philippines and the rest is DeFiesta history.
2. I lived in Los Angeles from the time I was a baby til about 8 years of age. Then moved to the DC area and grew up in Fairfax, VA
3. I have a 6 year old son, Nathan, and a 20 month old girl, Jordan
4. Both my parents come from a family of 10 brothers & sisters = lots of extended family across the globe.

Now I have to tag some others.... you'll know who you are! =)

The Kempers

2008-10-08T16:23:00.006-04:00

I had the privilege of shooting a lifestyle family session for the Kempers recently. We made good use of indoor light and open shade outside to get some killer portraits! I enjoyed working with them so much I offered a second shoot when the fall colors arrive! Here are a handful of my personal favorites...

What a good looking bunch =)

The kids were just hamming it up for me, they totally rocked!

Beautiful mom & the handsome boys. Good looks run in the family!

Gotta get a few of mom & dad alone ;)

Nothing beats a candid moment!

A big thanks to the Kempers for spending an hour with me and letting me capture some timeless moments. Until next time!

Promo Video Trailer

2008-10-06T02:12:00.025-04:00

A big shout out to Amir Pishvaei who did an awesome job. I highly recommend working with him if you're in need of a professional videographer. The trailer is now up on my main website. Editing of the entire video goes into full swing after fall wedding season.

In the meantime, mouse over the space below, click play, enjoy the trailer!

Theresa & Kevin

2008-10-05T15:22:00.003-04:00

I had a great time shooting Theresa & Kevin's wedding with Jessica del Vecchio over the weekend. Here are a few favorites. Be sure to check out Jessica's blog for more. Thanks Jess for having me along!

Michelle & Jared's Wedding Day

2008-10-01T13:13:00.010-04:00

Yikes I'm getting behind on blogging weddings, thanks to everyone for their patience!

Michelle & Jared's wedding was a total blast! The couple & their guests really knew how to let loose & have a good time after all is said and done. Denise & I thought it was a totally wicked party and the band Liquid A totally rocked the house! Even though we were short on time, we managed to get some killer portraits at the Jefferson Memorial. I created a sweet slideshow and posted some personal favorites of the day ... check it out!

Salon: PR at Partners
Church: Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown
Venue: Arts Club of Washington
Transportation: Chariots For Hire
Music: Liquid A
Second Shooter: Erin Rexroth

Bridesmaid Amy let me snap a quick shot =)

Mom couldn't help but get emotional at times

At ADP we're all about making the guys look cool.
This shot that Erin got for me is no exception.

This was a funny moment... guests somehow found their way around the back of the church trying to find their way to the Chapel, unintentionally seeing Michelle!
So the girls huddled and concealed her as best as they could as the guests would pass.

Did I mention how beautiful Michelle is?!

Ah yes, the tourists!
I let them indulge for a few minutes, then I had to exert some authority and move my party forward.
You never know what's going to happen at a wedding these days! LOL

We managed to get away from the "fans" to capture some awesome group shots.

...and some dramatic portraits of the couple.

We love to capture details our clients worked so hard on. Here's just one of them.

A quick shot of Michelle and some of the bridesmaids. By the way, do you see that stunning young lady at the far right? That's Michelle's MOH Regina whose wedding I'm shooting next summer!

The band was awesome, even Jared got up there to rock out some vocals with Sweet Home Alabama!

Congratulations Michelle & Jared.
Thanks so much for making us a part of your great & memorable wedding!

DC Photographers GTG, with Gene Higa too!

2008-10-01T10:38:00.006-04:00

Last night about 25 of us, all photographers (mostly wedding) met up for dinner at Gordon Biersch in Tysons Corner. It was a noisy bunch, but so was the bar since a Redskins show was being filmed in that part of the restaurant. Everyone had a great time mingling, networking, catching up with old friends & making new ones. Gene Higa, one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world, was in town shooting an e-session and made time to join us for dinner. It was great to chat with him for a bit to see what he's up to these days. I look forward to seeing him speak at WPPI in Vegas... plus he owes me dinner, lol.

Thanks to Noah for the pic! Visit his Facebook for more photos.

Michelle's Bridal Shoot

2008-09-28T07:49:00.022-04:00

Remember the bridal session I shot for a special client that I couldn't really show this summer? Read on...

In August Michelle & I got together to shoot her bridal portraits in Old Town Alexandria. I'm so happy to finally post some of our favorite images & her slideshow now that her wedding day is done and Jared & Michelle fly off to Key West for their honeymoon. Last night's wedding was incredible with some unexpected encounters with D.C. tourists, plus the live band that rocked the Monroe House inside the Arts Club of Washington, Liquid A, that played everything from Young MC to Metallica to Ring of Fire ... yep, they were awesome and the guests loved them. Definitely one of the best bands I've seen at a wedding.

More pics from Michelle & Jared's memorable D.C. wedding will come, but for now enjoy her bridals and some teaser wedding pics =)

Some teasers from the wedding ... a gorgeous dress with purple shoes ;)

And the tourists must've thought they recognized her from somewhere because a whole busload of them raided my photo shoot like vultures!
One of them even grabbed a bouquet!

There were 14 groomsmen. Here are a few of them cuttin' it up ... and no worries, the tourist being carried was not harmed, LOL.

Of course with 14 loud groomsmen, 6 bridesmaids, the bride & groom, and two dozen tourists following us, US Park Police stopped me immediately.
Permit presented, checked & approved...

...so I could get the shot I've been wanting to get for a while. Thank you Michelle & Jared!

Importance of Branding Your Photography

2008-09-26T13:35:00.007-04:00

Big companies like Target, Apple, General Motors, Sprint, and many others spend millions on advertising, marketing, and branding. Why shouldn't a photographer? Okay, maybe not spend millions, but if you could afford to, seek out branding & marketing agencies like Hinge, Iterative Designs, and Your Elevation. These agencies specialize in helping you create brand identity, brand packaging and marketing. Identifying what makes you unique and marketing it is one of the keys to growing your business. Identify yourself and your target client & market are some of the things I talk about in this video. Hope it gives you something to think about! Jordan was giving me something to think about halfway through the video, I think she had something to contribute =)

Here are some pics from the shoot

Herrington Harbour Fun Night Shots

2008-09-23T10:47:00.004-04:00

My associate photographer Noah Hayes second shot for me at a wedding recently at the Herrington by the Bay. It's a great venue and has some awesome places to shoot. Noah had the Nikon D3 so we had some fun shooting in the dark when we had a break from the reception...

Here he took an impromptu shot of Denise who wasn't quite ready for Noah's sneaky ways =)

ISO 3200, f/3.5, 1/8 sec, Nikon D3

Here's a shot of the Herrington from the Marina

ISO 4000, f/2.8, 1/13 sec, Nikon D3

BTW, the Nikon noise level is quite low at high ISO settings. Impressive =)

Michael & Anna Costa Photography Visits DC

2008-09-22T14:36:00.001-04:00

Last week our DC & Baltimore PUG (Pictage User Groups) gathered to welcome Michael & Anna Costa to DC as guest speakers focusing on standing out in our industry. I met them back in March at WPPI and am a member of their forum, Photo For the People. Be sure to check out our DC PUG blog for more pictures from the event. Photos are courtesy of MBK & Associates.

Michael & Anna shoot film AND digital, resulting in a unique hybrid style. Check out their portfolio to see for yourself.

Thanks to my friend and PUG leader Geoff Chessman for taking the group shot at MBK's studio.

Seeing Old Friends & Making New Ones

2008-09-21T00:54:00.005-04:00

I just got back from second shooting a wedding with Paul Price. We had a blast!

What was really sweet was seeing old friends and past clients at the wedding. My friends and happy brides continue to spread the word evangelizing for me... way cool! This reaffirms how personal my industry can be. As a wedding photographer it is extremely important to be yourself and true to others. It's all about keeping it real folks!

Speaking of evangelizing, Jessica's niece Mallory (who was also a brides maid in Jessica's wedding) was a guest at tonight's wedding. Mallory has had her eye on me since Jess' wedding and expressed strong interest today to shoot hers next June!
Can't wait to chat about her day =)

Here's Mallory ... she will no doubt be a gorgeous and stunning bride!

I grabbed some candids of her earlier in the day

Congrats to the future Mr. & Mrs. Reading!

Grace & Jason's Wedding - Part 2 of 2

2008-09-18T00:38:00.005-04:00

As promised, part 2 of 2 from Grace & Jason's wedding story. This was one of my favorite weddings this fall and just had to blog it! The couple was up for anything and they took really good care of me on my trip to Minneapolis.

Watch the slideshow to see almost 200 images that highlights their wedding day. To view the images individually, mouse over the "BROWSE" icon.

GUESTS: Pre-register at www.pictage.com/429174 to be notified when the entire gallery is available for viewing & ordering. I also posted some personal favorites below!

Grace on her balcony suite

A little text love from Jason to Grace

Grace was stunning!

Father of the Bride

Laura Williams of Loda Designs did a fabulous job with the flowers!

Jason & I are car guys. Couldn't resist a spin around the block in the Porsche 911 Cabriolet

The SOLERA was an awesome venue

The party was a riot. Check out more in the slideshow!

The slideshow was a hit at the reception =)

You know how I love my night shots =)

Canon 50 f/1.2L .... nice lens =)

2008-09-17T11:39:00.003-04:00

I LOVE this lens... plain & simple.

The Canon 50mm f/1.2L can produce insane bokeh (e.g., background blur), has tasty image quality with the right lighting conditions, and is built solid.
Some may find it's slow to focus with all that glass element, but it is still a fine performer.

Here are some unedited images, straight out of my Canon 5D.

Also stay tuned for PART 2 of Grace & Jason's wedding!

Pre-register at Pictage to see all the photos from the event!

http://www.pictage.com/429174

Grace & Jason's Wedding - Part 1

2008-09-14T07:11:00.006-04:00

This wedding was by far one of the most fun I've ever shot. The couple was up for anything photo wise, and their friends & family were some of the wildest bunch I've seen! Here are just a few teaser pics to enjoy, feel free to leave a comment ... more to come =)

Pre-register at http://www.pictage.com/429174 so you'll automatically be notified when their entire event gallery is online.

Grace & Jason's E-Session

2008-09-12T16:28:00.003-04:00

Grace, Jason & I had some good times hitting some bridges over the Mississippi around Minneapolis shooting their E-Session. Tonight I'll be covering their dinner rehearsal as well. Should be fun!

In the meantime check out the goods & some video below =)

In the Twin Cities

2008-09-12T00:51:00.004-04:00

I'm in the Twin Cities... Minneapolis/St. Paul to be exact. First time visit for me and it's a nice change of scenery for shooting! This evening the couple cooked dinner for me & a few of their close friends and family. Delicious! Tomorrow is a mini engagement shoot plus some other day activities with the couple and their friends. Saturday's the big day, can't wait! Grace & Jason were so kind to book me a suite on the concierge level at the Marriott City Center. Comfy I'd say =)

Here's a quick shot of my suite... two windows & views of the city from the 28th floor =)

And the couple left me some gift bags... oh snacks, me love some snacks!

Pentagon Memorial Ceremony. A Day of Remembrance...

2008-09-11T08:39:00.005-04:00

As I'm about to board a plane today to Minneapolis, I do so with some anxiety. I never enjoyed flying unless I have to. But I have gotten used to it and get by fairly well. However, today is different. The smell of the airport, the presence of TSA, and the unmistakable sound of a commercial airline engine is further emphasized by what happened 7 years ago.

I never quite got over 9/11.

I was a police officer when the terrorist act occurred on American soil, and I felt helpless for the victims, including those in my "other family" ... my fellow officers and firefighters/EMTs that went in to the Twin Towers and the Pentagon to save others. I also commend the passengers of United flight #93 for their heroic efforts. Many made the ultimate sacrifice. I was on the job when my Special Ops Team got the page to assist with immediate security response missions for secondary targets around the Alexandria/Arlington area after the Pentagon was hit. Everything from assisting with perimeter security at the Pentagon to searching vehicles driving under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The magnitude of the event didn't sink in right away. Instead I was in response mode and focused on doing my job. Deep inside sometimes I still feel like I'm in that mode... quietly on the alert. I don't know what drives that mode in me. Revenge? Anger? Fear? Sorrow? It really doesn't matter. What matters is we charge on and always reflect on this day. I think we owe that to those that died and sacrificed.

Today is the Pentagon Memorial Dedication Ceremony.
We move forward, but never forget.

...zzzzzzz...... and a big wedding coming up!

2008-09-10T07:25:00.008-04:00

Took forever to get her to sleep the other night... then finally after midnight....

=)

I am so pumped about this weekend's wedding of Grace & Jason in Minneapolis!
I am flying out tomorrow on 9/11... a day we'll all remember....

I'll do my best to post something up while I am there. Stay tuned for more.

It'll be a WICKED cool wedding =)

MAC v. PC

2008-09-08T11:59:00.006-04:00

I just love the PC v. MAC ads...

Here are a couple of my favorites

Check out Apple's newest ads HERE =)

CANON News! Destined Evolution

2008-09-05T19:20:00.007-04:00

(click on image above for teaser trailer!)

What could it be?!?!

=)