New Blog Location

I recently re-did my website and integrated my blog into the site.  For future blog postings . . . . . please check out http://bbphoto.biz/blog-photographic-musing ... . . .I've already got several new postings up.  Check it out!

BTW -- I now have two weblinks to the new website:

www.beyondtheboxphotography.com  & www.bbphoto.biz

Someone Needs to Build a Moat

I was thrilled to be able to take photos of this beautiful little 3 month old.  I've known Ms. Meghan since before she was born and I had a feeling that she was going to be cutie and I wasn't wrong.  Even though 3 month old babies aren't the easiest to photograph, I had a really tough time choosing the photos to edit.  Those big blue eyes just killed me.  This little one is going to be a heartbreaker.  Mom and Dad need to build a castle with a super high tower . . . . .and a moat . . . . with alligators.

Want to see more? Check them out on my website at http://www.beyondtheboxphotography.com/BlogImages/Someone-Needs-a-Moat/

 

Dive, Dive, Dive

Last month I was asked to take some photos outside of my normal portraits and wedding photography.  As you may or may not know, I am an avid scuba diver and can frequently be found underwater in the water off of Palm Beach County, Florida taking photos and stalking fish.

These images were for a new company called Scuba Venture Charters Inc (if you are into diving, you should definitely check them out).  They wanted photographs of all the boats and a composite image (which I absolutely love to create).  I've had to hold off posting them until I had permission from the company . . .  . . so here they are:

To see the rest of the images, please go to my website at http://www.beyondtheboxphotography.com/BlogImages/Scuba-Venture-charters-Inc

Backyard Fireworks

While the 4th of July is a holiday to celebrate our country's freedom.  It is generally marked with fireworks, cookouts and friends.  This year is no different and even though the 4th fell on a Thursday, we still gathered friends and family together to celebrate.

Want to see more?   http://smu.gs/10H2RiC

So what do you think?

I read an article the other day in the Huffington Post about not allowing guests at a wedding to take photos with their personal cameras or phones (see the full article here - it's a good read and they have some picture examples).

Initially, as a wedding photographer, I'm thinking . . . "This is fantastic! No more having to push past everyone with their camera phones out trying to get the shot that I've been paid to take."  It really is a hard to gets some of these fantastic shots with people constantly people popping their heads up like some kind of strange human whack-a-mole game.  And, it's not like we can say, "Hey, do that again - I missed that."  In wedding photography, many of the photographs that we are paid to take are one shot only chances.  If you miss the kiss or the bouquet toss or that poignant moment during the first dance . . . . . you're done.  There are no do-overs.

And despite many wedding photography contract provisions that state that guests need to not interfere with the photographer's work, it's not made known to the excited guests that just want to take a picture.  And, the real point is, is that they don't understand that them popping out into the church aisle at the moment of the first kiss and flashing their camera is ruining the professional photographer's shot.

Am I a proponent of a completely unplugged wedding and reception?  Probably not.  Yes, I am a professional photographer and I need to be able to do my work without being ambushed by several other flashes and random people jumping into my shot.  That being said, I know as a wedding guest, that taking pictures at a wedding is fun.  We're usually with a bunch a friends and family that we don't get to see on a regular basis and we want to gather our own memories.  Honestly, the bride and groom and maybe the immediate family get the pro photos, I want some memories too.

So, what do you do?  Being a camera Nazi doesn't seem like a great solution and just letting everyone have free reign doesn't work either.  My feelings are that during the ceremony and formal wedding party shots - no other cameras/phones please.  And during the key moments of the reception, such as the first dance, father/daughter dance, etc . . . . . the wedding photographer gets to be the only one close up to that moment.

So how to accomplish it?  A simple announcement at the beginning of the ceremony and another announcement at the beginning of the reception should be sufficient to deter most enthusiastic guest.  If there are family members that want to take some images of the wedding party, I usually will take my shots then allow for some others to come in and take a couple of their own.  I am not about denying other people the enjoying of taking pictures, but my first duty is to the bride and groom that hired me to capture their special moment and give them lasting memories.

So . . . . what do you think?

Introducing the Beautiful Miss Meghan

I'm sorry, I've been MIA the last couple weeks.  I've been super busy (which is a good thing) and am currently still editing a wedding, an awesome senior session, some headshots, a balloon and air show and a HDR project I've been working on for awhile.

But I had to share these newborn shots for little Miss Meghan.  She was five days old when I took these and such a good little baby . . .. awake, but good (she would sleep until you tried to pose her - that's okay I prefer the more natural look anyway).

I'd be hard pressed to pick my favorites from this session, but I will try . . . . . . here are a few that I really like.  The rest can be seen at http://www.beyondtheboxphotography.com.     Coming soon ( I promise) . . . a wonderful wedding, beautiful senior and an amazing air show!

Senior Sessions are Fun!

Another Senior Session.  This time I took the senior portraits in my studio.  Great kid . . . refused to smile.

Fun Senior Session with Twins!

Had an absolute blast with these two!  Senior portraits are so much fun and in Florida, outdoors is the place to be!

For more of this shoot, please check out http://www.BeyondtheBoxPhotography.com/BlogImages/Senior-Twins/

Palm Beach Wandering . . . .

I love travel photography . . . .in fact, it is my dream to someday do travel photography in addition to my portrait photography business I have in Palm Bay.  So, I like to take advantage of the opportunities I have to pretend to be a tourist and walk around and take a bunch of photos.  This last weekend I got to do that in Downtown West Palm Beach.  I've driven through the area numerous times and it's not like its super far away, but I've never stopped to wander with my camera before.  I stuck with the waterfront area this time, but had a really great time playing with the angles and different perspectives.

Here are a few of my favorites.  If you like these types of images and want to see more, the rest of my photographic wandering is on my website at Beyond the Box Photography/BlogImages/Downtown-Palm-Beach/

Ahhh . . . .Spring

This time of year is wonderful.  Not too hot, not too cold and everything is starting to wake up for the year.  There are many times I will just take my camera outside and wander around to take nature photos.  Kind of a nice change from portraits and weddings.

Newborn Baby Aiden

I had such a wonderful time with this newborn and his family in my studio.  Little Aiden was only 5 days old when he came to visit.  And, even though he resisted sleep, he was a joy to work with.

Here are just a few photographs from this great newborn session.  To see more, please check out my website http://www.beyondtheboxphotography.com/BlogImages/Baby-Aiden/ or my Facebook page.

Baby J Newborn Session

Busy day in the studio Saturday . . . . Baby J and all his extended family came to get their picture taken.  Two and a half weeks old and this little newborn was wide awake for most of his photographs.  Finally, towards the end of almost 3 hours, he decided to go to sleep for us.  What a cutie this little guy is!