Paul Barrios Photography

My Friends are Awesome

2009-11-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

My friends are some of the coolest around. Any time I need test subjects for new techniques I have learned or just want to have some fun, they are always willing and able to get in front of the camera. This shoot was another fun time being goofy with my friends Candice and Steve. Let me begin by stating that THIS WAS A STAGED SHOOT and that CANDICE AND STEVE ARE NOT MARRIED. Just had to get that out there. Candice and I talked about staging wedding portraits with a "Twilight" meets "GQ" type of feel. Not sure if we nailed that exact look but I think the pictures came out great.

Did I mention that these were fake and staged? Just checking :-)

Halloween Costumes: Steven Greenstreet

2009-10-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite times of the year is Halloween. Why? I love seeing all of the creative costumes people come up with and enjoy getting a laugh.

This year, however; of all of the interesting costumes I have seen, my friend Steven Greenstreet drew my attention for his "throw back" costume in honor of an old childhood book I read, "Where the Wild Things Are". With the movie debuting this past month, Steven decided to parade around in a costume portraying "Max", the "king of the wild things" who one evening plays around his home, making mischief in a wolf costume. This year, Steven was the one making mischief around on the Rock Creek trail.

Working with Models: Eliza

2009-10-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I joined Model Mayhem. It's a cool site where photographers, models, and make up artists can network and work together on various projects.

Eliza is the second model I have had the opportunity to work with and it was a lot of fun. I have been practicing more editing techniques for portraits and wanted some practice and she just wanted updated pics for her portfolio. We decided to meet up at Sly Horse Studios in Rockville. If you are in need of a space to shoot I highly recommend them. For $35 an hour you have access to all sorts of equipment and space to do some amazing pictures.

Overall this was fun and I look forward to working with Eliza on some projects I have in mind like, "Trash the Dress" which will be a lot of fun!

eSession: Mark & Hannah

2009-10-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a non stop weekend of shooting. SOOO many pictures to go through.

Let's start with my engagement portrait session with my good friends Mark and Hannah.

Mark and Hannah are a couple that ooze cuteness. I have known Mark for a number of years and have always wanted to see him with a special girl. Hannah is that girl. Her and Mark are so in love and I really enjoyed being able to do their engagement pictures. I can't wait to second shoot at their wedding with one of my favorite photographers whom I also look up to; Kenny Kim. I will definitely feel like a rookie shooting with him but I know I will learn a lot.

Okay, time to go through more pictures from the weekend.... a wedding, a studio shoot, and another eSession.... STAY TUNED!

Marnie

2009-10-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

So for the past two weeks I have really dedicated a lot of time to lighting techniques and incorporating more Photoshop into my editing (Thanks Israel). There is so much to learn!

This past weekend I got to shoot with my friend Marnie. A Lululemon educator by day, Marnie is making the jump into modeling. When she emailed me to ask if I would do a shoot for her I was happy to do so. Not knowing what to expect, I packed my entire trunk of goodies that included my 4 light Speedotron Kit (now powered by my Elinchrom Skyport wireless kit... I couldn't help myself), 10' x 12' backdrop, softbox, multiple umbrellas, and I even busted out the D3. We converted her apartment in DC into our very own photography studio. The two of us really didn't know what the shots would look like but I must say these are some of my favorite pictures to date.

I love, love, love shooting with my friends. It makes the experience so much fun and this is one of my favorite shoots thus far. Thanks Marnie for making my job so easy and fun! Here is a "sci fi" version of my favorite shot.

Andrew Lee

2009-10-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

So recently I have gotten into golfing. My dad has been playing for quite some time now and he really wanted me to learn so that finally after all of these years we could have some father & son bonding time. How many times have we played in the last month? Twice. I am enjoying the sport and really like the mental challenge it presents.

I met Andrew Lee at Caddie Master; the shop where I buy my gear. It's a cool shop and you should definitely stop by if you are looking for golf gear. In talking with Andrew, I wanted to use him as a sports model and take pictures of him on the green. He agreed and we went out at 6:30 in the morning to shoot.

I was joined by my good friend Peter Bang on this shoot. I am always happy to work with Peter. He was also so kind as to let me use his "Alien Bees" portable strobe for this shoot. The lighting came out great!

Inspired by an old poster I have seen of Tiger Woods, I turned the shots of Andrew into a mock poster and I am looking into getting it printed. Maybe the shop will use it. Who knows? I had lots of fun and hope to do more shots like this in the future.

One Light Practice... FINALLY!

2009-10-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

Okay so as many of you know, I currently have a lot of time on my hands these days. It's actually not so bad. I am finally getting around to getting a lot of stuff done that I was too tired or too busy to take care of. You know, cleaning up the basement, going through junk in the garage, and finally watching Zack Arias' "One Light" instructional DVD. All I have to say is that I have no excuse for not making time for this earlier! I have struggled through countless technical blogs and experiementing only to find that this video, which I have had for almost 6 months, made sense!!!!

For all of you want dramatic pictures you can do one of two things:

1. Invest in Photoshop and all of the amazing actions out there on the web to get you the results you want.

2. Learn how light works and how to use your camera (yes... that machine you are holding in your hand) to start to get that amazing and dramatic look to your shots!

This is one of the finest instructional resources I have found to learn about using light to your creative advantage. Now all of those other sites make sense to me. Next step: find a way to attend the Joe McNally Workshop that will be held later this month.

For now... these shots make me happy! The creative gears are definitely churning now!

Thanks to my little sister Leslie for being my test dummy. I love the funky PJs HA HA HA!

Kate Ochsman

2009-09-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

As many of you may or may not know, I really love clothes. My friends regularly make fun of how much I love to go to a store and try stuff on. I have, in previous posts, mentioned that one of my favorite stores is Lululemon Athletica. The clothes are so comfortable and they really do a good job of designing men's work out clothes. Aside from the clothes, I love the people who work there. That is where I met Kate Ochsman.

Kate is a local theater actress who has a love for connecting with people through entertainment. A few months ago Kate asked me to take some portraits of her for her portfolio. To my surprise her web site had regular, candid pictures that were taken with a point and shoot camera. I gladly agreed to jump in and offer my services. She told me that she would be honored to have me take her pictures because she really did like my work. That made me smile and blush. I guess I am still learning how to take compliments LOL. After a few schedule changes, we finally got together today and shot some portraits at Glen Echo Park.

Kate was so easy to work with. She is very creative and offered some cool ideas during the shoot that we tried out. Her adventurous attitude is one that leads her to try out anything, even if it seems a little silly. Being an actress made directing her very simple and she really did an amazing job of showing some good emotions for the camera.

It was a joy and honor to work with her and I know there will be more collaborating in the future.

You can read more about Kate on her web site. Be sure to catch her as "Lizzie" on the Obamanologues.

Hispanic Heritage Awards

2009-09-30T03:11:00.000-07:00

I have said it before, in this business who you know helps you land some fun gigs. My friend Carolina got me access to come shoot the after party of one of the biggest events in the Latin community; the Hispanic Heritage Awards.

It was truly an honor for me to take part in this event. There were high profile leaders in the Hispanic community in attendance, Latino music stars like Alex Gonzalez from the group Maná & recording artist Crisitan Castro, Latino comedians, television stars, a red carpet and everything. I got to meet some really cool people at this event and felt that it will go down as one of my most memorable experiences to date. Thanks again Carolina!!!

Here are a few samples from the evening.

Marta

2009-09-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

A while back my friend Carolina asked me if I would do portraits of her mother, Marta. She wanted to have fun pictures of her mom and the family done as a gift to her mother.

As I have shared in the past, it is very important for new photographers to get used to, and comfortable with, giving direction to your model. As artists, we photographers have complete control over the look of the pictures. I have really worked hard to work on my direction during a shoot because I want to make sure that I provide the best images possible for my client. Let's not forget, however, that direction alone will not accomplish this. We must also aim to find a way to build trust with our models by connecting with them on a personal level. Emotions will be communicated through our pictures so why not aim to bring the best out of a person?

How do I do this? Spend the first 20-30 minutes talking with them about who they are, what they do, and what their passions are. On this particular day, I found out a lot about Marta including the fact that she used to run her own Modeling agency years ago. This made working with her very easy. I also used it as an opportunity to learn a little bit about working with models and how things are done in the fashion world. I definitely learned a lot and valued her input.

Blast From the Past: Bonnie

2009-09-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, thanks to the power of Facebook, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with my old friend Bonnie. Bonnie is another person I grew up and went to school with. When she found out I was doing my own photography and trying to build a business, she was one of the first to want to work with me.

It was a pleasure to hang with her and catch up. This will go down as one of my favorite shoots. Thanks Bonnie!

Terp Football

2009-09-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

After being on the set of "Despondent" yesterday, I decided to join one of my best friends, Derek, to a University of Maryland Football game. It has been years since I have been to campus for a game. I think the last game I went to was back in 2001. Being at the game reminded me about how much I miss being in school. I never attended UMD but always had dreams of attending. I came close after graduating high school back in 2000 but decided to go to Montgomery Community College to save money. 9 years later and trips in and out of school due to finances, I am currently on break from UMUC. After yesterday's game, however, I would like to explore UMD College Park as an option. We'll see.

Though UMD lost the game (by 1 point!) fun times were had by all. Sitting in the student section is the place to be for a game!

Despondent

2009-09-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the chance to be on the set of my friend Israel Groveman's movie, "Despondent" to shoot stills. This movie is the brain child of Israel and another friend of mine, Joe Falcione. A few years back Joe began his own company, Reliant Films, which producesMachinima trailers for video games. He then partnered with Israel on an idea for a movie about a hitman. This began the three year project which is now coming to a closure. Yesterday they were filming the final sequences for the movie which they hope to have out in 2010.

It was sure a blast to be on the set. It made me feel as if I were a little kid again playing man hunt in the park with my friends. I know I have blogged about Israel before and how he is truly a gifted individual but seeing him in character brings out that intense side of him that makes him out to be the next Kiefer Sutherland. It is quite entertaining to see actually.

Though I was not able to stick around for the entire day, I enjoyed hanging out on the set and seeing my friends do what they do best. I was a little nervous, however, about someone in the neighborhood we were shooting in calling the cops due to all of the replica semi-automatic weapons the cast was running around with. Luckily no trouble was stirred up. In fact, it seemed to draw some attention from onlookers. I guess people thought Hollywood had come out to the middle of nowhere to shoot a film.

Just as an FYI: ALL WEAPONS IN THESE PICTURES ARE FAKE. THEY ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. THESE ARE MOVIE PROPS. Just wanted to clear up any misunderstanding.

Angel Cabrera

2009-09-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was having a conversation with my friend Angel about a cool project. Angel is a Muay Thai fighter and has been doing it for quite some time now. he is currently training for his final fight which is to take place in February. Why is he giving up the gloves? He has a passion to one day become a pastor. I am very impressed with his choice and think it takes a lot of guts to do that.

Though Angel has been fighting for a while he has never had some cool pictures of himself in action taken. For the next few months I'll be paying him a visit to get some cool shots of him training and in February I will be traveling to NYC to cover the event.

Stay tuned for some more cool pictures!

Photo Walk DC

2009-09-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

I put out an invite on Facebook a little while ago about going on a photo walk with some of my photographer friends. Out of the many invites, three showed up: Israel Groveman, Sarah, and Lauren. Though I wanted to have more people come, it was kind of nice having a small group. We enjoyed some good conversation about photography techniques, getting gigs, gear, and life in general.

Our first stop was the National Zoo. Yup, the zoo. It has been a long time since I have visited so when I was planning out the walk I knew I wanted to include a visit there. Sadly, the zoo was not what I expected. There is a lot of work going on and a lot of the exhibits were closed. I felt bad because there wasn't a lot to photograph and my friend Sarah could only join us for that part of the trip. After about an hour of just exploring we decided to move on to the next destination.... Georgetown.

There were some cool things in Georgetown as always. Our group, now down to three, had to hit the famous "Exorcist Stairs". While there we met a gentleman named Dave. Dave trains for races that take place inside the Empire State building in NYC. His workout includes running up and down the stairs 100 times! It blew our minds. We blew his mind too. He wondered why, after so many years since the movie's release, would people still come to the "Exorcist Stairs" to take pictures. It was a good question. I know that I have many pictures of those stairs and I guess it's just a "'ya gotta do" type thing when I am shooting down there.

After the stairs we enjoyed a good lunch at Sweet Green. I enjoy getting wraps from this place. They are really good and fulfilling. While there we had a really good conversation about faith and social issues. Though Israel and I have different opinions about things at times, I appreciate his passion and was really inspired to be more vocal about what I think.

Last stop... U Street to the famous Ben's Chili Bowl! If you know anything about me you must know that I love visiting places that are rich in culture and history and this place has it. I know I had already eaten but I could not help indulging some more and ordering a chili dog. Yup... I ate a chili dog. I was a little nervous because I don't really eat much meat other than chicken. Despite my fears I could not pass up having one. I survived... for now :-) The thing I enjoy the most about this place is the down home atmosphere. Okay so it is a little "hood" (that means "ghetto" or "urban" for those who need the translation) but I dig that. There is nothing like loud Go Go music to build an appetite. I actually really like Go Go and have since I was in high school. I know the scene was pretty different from what my suburban friends were used to but they seemed to have a good time. After a little more exploring around the U Street area, we decided to bid DC a fond farewell.

Though I expected more people to show, I really did enjoy getting to know my friends a little better and really learned a lot from each one of them. I want to do this again and am already planning an outing in October... Great Falls for some cool fall photography. Stay tuned!

Finally got my cards...

2009-09-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

So after going over design after design, I finally decided to go with a simple one I found on Vista Print. Not what I had visioned in my head but with all of the inquiries about my work I needed something. They aren't so bad but trust me, I am already thinking of a redesign.

My Little Outdoor Sanctuary: Great Falls

2009-09-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

What an amazing week this has been. I have gotten most of my projects completed ahead of schedule thanks to being on a "mini vacation" from my "regular" job.

To reward myself I decided to go on a solo hike out at Great Falls. For those of you who do not know me, I love to stay active so hikes, marathons, biking, and rock climbing are things I love to do for fun. I also decided to leave the Nikon D90 at home and relied on my trusty Nikon S600 point and shoot camera and my iPhone 3Gs to capture the shots. I must admit, those two pieces of technology sure do the job. My Gorilla Pod tripod was great to have since I didn't have anyone to snap pictures of me, for me.

I love coming out to this park and am freshly reminded of how much there is to explore right in my backyard. On this trip I was the only one out on the trails and it was awesome. Great Falls served as my own little sanctuary away from the fast paced life of the Washington, D.C. area. I got some good "thinking" time in and found it to be the perfect way to recharge my "life battery". Half way through the hike I stopped at this one point overlooking the Potomac River (pics below) and couldn't help but shout for joy at how free I felt from the stresses of life. A line from my Lululemon bag struck me at that very moment. It reads, "That which matters the most should never give way to that which matters the least." I then began to meditate upon all of the blessings I have in life and gave thanks to the Almighty for them all: friends, family, health, etc.

On the 27th of September there will be a special on PBS entitled, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" shot by Ken Burns that will feature Great Falls. I plan on watching it... will you?

At the end of my little adventure I headed over to the Georgetown Bagelry to have some good food and see my friend Mary who owns and runs the place. I don't get down to River Road often but every time I visit the Bagelry I leave happy making my trip well worth the drive. There is a reason they were voted "Best Bagels" in the Washington, D.C. City Paper. Please make sure you visit this place. You will not be disappointed.... oh yeah... make sure to vote for them in the latest Bethesda Magazine poll!

Blast From the Past- Alex

2009-09-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

This past year and a half has been quite the interesting ride. There have been some amazing highs and some tragic lows but an overall learning and growing time for me.

Along the way I have had the opportunity to reconnect with a lot of my old friends from my childhood. Alex is someone I have known for practically half of my life. When the opportunity to take her pictures came up I gladly took on the shoot. I am still getting comfortable with posing people but I think this shoot is really starting to show vast improvement from times before. 'Ya gotta love having friends to test your techniques out on.

Light Rings

2009-09-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

In an earlier post I showed you guys some portraits I did of my buddy Israel Groveman. It was a lot of fun hanging out with him and learning about cool lighting techniques and the importance of using Photoshop.

One of the coolest toys he had was his ABR800 AlienBees Ringflash. The quality and control of this flash is one of the best I have seen for under $400. It's ability to distribute a powerful flash with virtualy no hard shadows is amazing. This is definatley a tool I will need to add to my bag in the future.

I used this light for Israel's portraits and they look great. He snapped some pictures of me and I must say, I am becoming more comfortable in front of the lens. A new career maybe? Doubt it. I think I will stay behind the lens and let others look beautiful.

Photos shot by Israel Groveman
Post Processing by me
Contender Jacket by Lululemon Athletica

My Heros: Annie Leibovitz

2009-09-03T21:31:00.000-07:00

People often ask me who I get ideas and inspiration from when I am setting up a shot or planning a full shoot. In the coming weeks I hope to highlight some of the amazing artists that influence my work.

Today... I start with the legendary Annie Leibovitz.

Last week my good friend Marcy presented me with a gift. It was a book by Annie Leibovitz entitled, "American Music". Marcy told me she had been out, saw this book and thought, "This is truly the perfect gift for Paul." It was. This book combines two of my most favorite things in the world: music and photography. I strongly recommend this book. The shots are amazing!

I am always floored by the way Annie Leibovitz is able to bring life to her pictures. Whether it's a basic portrait of some famous performer or a high budgeted shoot for "Vanity Fair" or "Rolling Stone" magazine, each one of her photos have the ability to capture my attention as if to say, "You will look at me!" I have followed her work for years and look forward to seeing what ever she creates. In case you haven't noticed, I have also tried to copy some of her style and try to adapt it to my style (key word is TRY).

In "American Music" the shots are jaw dropping and powerful. The way she poses her subject, the location, the clothes, the props... each one is carefuly considered in preparation for the shot. I want to grow in this area. Though I may not be making the Leibovitz bucks I want to give every shot I take the level of care and dedication that she gives her pictures.

Joanna

2009-09-01T16:02:00.001-07:00

Shooting fashion portraits can be very intimidating for me. Despite my very open personality, I can be pretty shy when it comes to posing people I do not know. Luckily I have some really cool friends who have offered themselves as guinea pigs so that I can get better. I am a "moment capturer"... an "emotion freezer". In other words, I love capturing genuine moments and true expressions. This is why I gravitate towards weddings. Fashion is intimidating because as a photographer, I am forced to create that moment and sell a "look." Thank goodness for my free spirited friends who make that part of my job easy and fun.

Joanna is one of my most favorite friends. She has so much energy and love for life that in just two seconds she can remind you that there is so much to be grateful for. Whether it's reminding you that pride in one's work is not to be mistaken for arrogance or of simple truths like not allowing stress to rob you of joy; Joanna seizes every opportunity she has to live in the moment. Not in a way that is careless but more so in a way that views every moment in life as an opportunity to create a memory and grow as a person.

During our shoot last weekend my Speedotron lighting kit was not playing nicely which forced me to switch to my two Nikon SB900 speed lights. I followed a Joanna rule of "going with it" and didn't allow the technical problems with my gear ruin a fun time shooting with my friend. Two of my dearest rules applied that night as well: practice makes perfect and always carry a back up. All that time I dedicated to practicing with my little speed lights paid off in the end. Lighting kits are amazing but as I learned that night, speed lights can save your tail in a pinch.

Despite the technical difficulties, I think the shots came out pretty well.

Israel Groveman

2009-09-01T07:36:00.001-07:00

Epic photography that truly lives and breathes art... this is how I would describe my buddy Israel Groveman's work. I have known Israel for a number of years because of church. This man is one of the most talented individuals I know. Not only is he an amazing musician and composer... he is a very creative filmmaker and even more amazing photographer... and he loves the outdoor life.

When he asked if I would do some basic head shots of him I was honored to do so and enjoyed hanging out with him. He brings so much knowledge to the table and I soaked it all in. Everything from creative lighting techniques (I soooo want a light ring now!!), learning about Photoshop plug ins, and the importance of mastering JPEGs and not relying too heavily on RAW formatting on my camera.

I hope to learn more from him and will enjoy getting to know Leah and his family better.

The "hunter" is now the "hunted"

2009-08-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

So there is a very good reason why I am behind the camera... I don't like the way I look in photos.

During yesterday's adventure in the city, my buddy Brandon Bloch shot these two pictures of me in "action". This is a rare moment so soak it in now.

Brandon, great shots. I hope your D80 didn't self destruct after taking these photos.

Shooting in the Circle

2009-08-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

So I made a trip down to the city to meet up with my buddy Brandon and his girlfriend Kelly down in Logan Circle. I met them at one of my favorite stores, Lululemon Athletica and the folks at the Logan Circle location are just as cool as my good friends at the Bethesda location. Everyone was willing to contribute to my "100 Head Shots" project and helped me get my total number up to 40 (I still have a lot to go LOL).

I also got to meet some of Brandon's filmmaker friends. These guys are some of the coolest guys I have yet to meet. They all hold down "regular" jobs but are in constant pursuit of their true joy; filmmaking. I did a little shooting with them and it was so much fun. We just walking around the P Street/Logan Circle area and just clicked away with stills and film (yes actual 8mm film in an old movie camera). Brandon's friend Steven has been producing documentary films for a long time and I learned a lot of cool tricks about setting up shots while we were out goofing around. I love surrounding myself with ultra creative people because it really helps me to push my own creativity to the next level.

I hope to work with these guys on some cool projects and look forward to building a good friendship with them. Here is a small sample of some of the shots I got.

The Studio Shoot

2009-08-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

So this past Friday I finally did it... I did a studio shoot with my friend Rachel using my old school Speedotron Light Kit. It was so much fun!

A little background:

About a month or two ago my friend Rachel and I were talking about doing a fashion style shoot for some of her vintage clothing that she sells through her site. I loved her idea and felt that we shared the same passion and vision for the project. I must admit... I was very nervous about how it was all going to turn out. Why? Well first off Rachel is a former Redskins cheerleader. She is very comfortable in front of a camera and has worked with some amazing photographers in the past. Secondly, I have played around with studio lights for fun before but had never done a real shoot with them.

Despite how under qualified I felt, I had an amazing time and Rachel made me very comfortable and took direction very well. I learned that good wine and playing the "Black Eyed Peas" made things go much smoother. Having friends on the "set" is another great way to calm my nerves too. It was cool to have Natalie and my good friend Rachel H. hang out during the shoot.

Rachel thank you for making this shoot one of the most fun shoots I have done. I look forward to working more with you.

Kami

2009-08-20T21:20:00.001-07:00

So on my way to have dinner with my friends I made a stop at the Rockville Town Square to do a small portrait shoot for my friend Kami. I have taken lot's of pictures with friends in the past that have included Kami and one thing remains the same in every shot... she has got such a joyful smile. It's not just nice but it's like you can actually feel the joy radiating from her and it is very infectious.

Thanks for the fun shoot Kami! I hope you enjoy these.

100 Head Shots?

2009-08-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

So I have 11 days before the deadline for my project. I have 24 shots... I need 76! here are my latest additions.

Tano

2009-08-17T07:20:00.001-07:00

So a few weeks ago I posted a notice on my Facebook page about doing portraits for people on the cheap and it sparked a small flood of inquires for pictures.

Last Friday I did a session for my good friend Tano. Tano needed some pictures to update his acting/modeling portfolio. Tano is a lot of fun to work with. He is a natural in front of the camera and did not need a lot of direction to get the look he wanted.

This week I have two more sessions. Look for the samples to be up on here soon after they are done.

Organic to Go

2009-08-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of good food. Here in downtown Bethesda there is a vast array of restaurants and pubs to step in for a bite. A few weeks ago I discovered a new place called "Organic to Go" and it is fabulous!

I have been to eat there a number of times and always am impressed by the freshness of their food and the amazing flavor packed into every bite.

Today my friend Candice and I met one of the head chefs, Stephen Joseph. Stephen is one of the nicest chefs I have met down here and he really loves food and creativity and it shows in every dish he creates.

I will be working with them on a small shoot for the restaurant and I look forward to working with him and his staff.

10 Down...

2009-08-11T21:53:00.001-07:00

90 to go!

So to keep myself busy and constantly practicing I've taken on a new personal challenge. I have decided to take a basic head shot of 100 people by the end of August. Now this is a simple challenge for myself just for fun. I enjoy it and am happy that my coworkers and friends have agreed to jump on board for it.

Here's the deal: semi-serious look, 3 attempts, black and white. Simple. Hopefully I can keep this up and complete my goal.

Wish me luck!

Legg Mason Tennis Classic FINALS

2009-08-10T06:41:00.001-07:00

So as many of you know, in between weddings and engagement pictures I occasionally take on some fun assignments. This week I got to shoot at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic and yesterday was the final. My sports fix was being met in full.

I envy sports photographers for their amazing shots and ability to think fast. The only thing I don't dig about them is the smug attitude they can some times possess towards those who either:

1. don't shoot with a Canon
or
2. don't have a fast enough camera

All week my NIKON D90 got some funny looks from the other photographers. Yesterday was different. I was fortunate enough to borrow my father's NIKON D3.

That's right... my little buddy brought his big brother along to ward off the Canon bullies. My Nikon friends along the court side and in the stands seemed to make room for "big poppa" and it felt great.

Despite the amazing weather we had for most of the week, the familiar Washington D.C. humidity returned to set the stage for yesterday's Men's final.

The Challenger: the All American boy, Andy Roddick
The Defending Champion: 2008 Legg Mason Champ Juan Martin Del Potro

Andy Roddick was favored to win the title and put on a great show for us all week. Sunday's match seemed to be a challenge for the tennis superstar who, despite putting up a good fight, could not take down the defending champion.

I had so much fun this week and hope to get other opportunities to do some more sports stuff... especially a REDSKINS GAME!!! We'll see.

For now, it's back to reality... no more D3 (sad face)... for now. Don't worry "little buddy" (aka Nikon D90) I still love you!

Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Lee

2009-08-09T00:26:00.001-07:00

Ahh... with all of the craziness of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic this week, it was nice to get back to doing a wedding this weekend and boy this one was ultra fun!

This marks the third weekend in a row where I am shooting with my good friend Peter Bang. I also got to work with a new friend, the one and only, the fabulous Megan Beth. This girl was totally awesome to work with and I look forward to working with her some more.

In my last post I talked about sports photography and wedding photography have a lot in common. Mainly that you only get one chance to "get the shot" and then, before you know it, that chance goes "poof." For Nelson & Stella Lee, I got to put some of my new found knowledge to the test.

Nelson & Stella were a joy to work with. Stella is a stunning bride who loves the camera and her ladies were just as enthusiastic about pictures as Stella was. There were so many fun moments in during the day that I was on my toes all the time. I loved it. From the girls dancing around the house while they got ready to Stella's dad tearing up the dance floor, this wedding was the most fun so far.

For fun portraits we took the couple and their bridal party down to one of my most favorite places to shoot; historic Ellicot City. If you have never been there before I suggest you take a visit... one note... please try to leave you Hummer H2 Limo at home if you do come up. We had to stop traffic to get Sam, the limo driver, enough room to back the humongous H2 limo into a waiting area in town.

Overall the night was memorable and full of energy. I love this couple and I look forward to more like them.

Andy Roddick

2009-08-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

Need I say more? Amazing tennis player and a tremendous showman to say the least.

Among the many things I have learned this week I will leave you with this: Taking part in the Legg Mason Classic this week has really helped me to think really fast about how I am going to set up my shots. I have learned that the world of sports photography is very similar to the wedding photography world for the following reason: YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO GET THE SHOT. There is no "redo" or "practice run". I can't wait to apply this and some other things I have learned when I go to shoot wedding #3 with Peter Bang this weekend.

Legg Mason Tennis

2009-08-03T23:34:00.000-07:00

Though I am mainly focusing on weddings and engagement pictures, I still like to take on special projects to keep me sharp. This week I have been invited by a good photographer friend of mine, Christy Bowe, to shoot the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. This was definitely cool to take part in for the sheer fact that I love sports and having the opportunity to shoot an event like this is a nice treat for any sports fan. I must admit, I was a little nervous coming into this event as a photographer. "Why?" you may ask... well... in the world of sports photography you are judged by the gear you bring to the table. My Nikon D90 (fabulous camera!!!) sure got some funny looks by all of the Canon Mark II users and Nikon D3 users in atendance. Never one to back down from a fight, I found that what I lacked in speed I sure made up for in the form of my nifty Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8f AF-S VR II zoom lens. That's right, my little buddy and I were not going to be mocked easily. We'll see how the rest of the week goes.

Here is a sample of the Young vs Hewitt match.

Renee & Jerry Wedding

2009-08-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Another amazing shoot with Peter Bang and Jenny James. This particular day was pretty laid back despite the disgustingly humid weather we were experiencing. The couple really pushed through and made the best of it all. I, on the other hand, could not wait to get home to a nice shower and cold glass of iced tea. All in all the shoot was great and Renee was a joy to photograph. She has such a beautiful smile and is one of the most expressive people I have captured with my camera.

What a day. Next week... Wedding #3 with Peter. But before that... the Legg Mason Classic. Yup... I like to take on some other fun projects in between weddings.

Melody & Preston

2009-07-25T22:24:00.000-07:00

So I served as third shooter at a wedding with Peter Bang this week. Peter and I have been friends for years and I have wanted to work with him for a while and I am glad I got to do so. I have been shooting a lot of "life style" pictures for months (i.e. parties, special events, portraits, etc.). I have wanted to get into doing weddings for a long time but wanted to shadow some people I respect in the business. Who better to ask than my friend Peter. I found that weddings are really fun and the high paced energy was an environment I thrived in. I also am getting to meet other wedding photogs like Jenny James along the way.

On that note... Melody and Preston were a lot of fun to work with. They were an easy going and laid back couple that really appreciate the art of photography and had a lot of fun places and ideas in mind for their pictures. Here are a few samples. Enjoy!