It’s intimidating when a fellow photographer (professional, or not) hires me to take their family photos. Especially when you know they have camera equipment that far surpasses your own…

Hmmm…. I suppose I should look at this as a huge compliment! Anyhow, Zubin, I hope these images live up to your expectations, and I will continue to cross my fingers that you never figure out how to take the photo and be in the photo at the same time. Enjoy!

I’m so happy to be posting photos of Rose and her family for a second time. If you’ve followed me since the beginning, you may remember seeing them before as one of my very first sessions. Two years later, they have a new addition to their family and seem happier than ever.  I’ve known Rose since we used to work together; back in the days before I was a photographer. She was the most patient and helpful co-worker I’ve had, and I’m delighted to still be able to see her once in a while. Rose and Penn, I hope you love the photos.

Someone special turned 1 recently! The celebration was full of love, family and friendship, not to mention some pretty spectacular details! To get an idea…

If you attended the party, and would like to see more, please ask the hosts. They have the online gallery information!

Anyone at this gorgeous wedding this weekend? Bookmark my blog to see more in the future!

and why I prefer to create black and whites myself.

Most of you know that I’m hesitant to show my straight-out-of-the-camera shots. The reason why is it’s a piece of art that’s been started, but is only half done. I had a guy at a party the other day come up to me and ask to see the picture I just took.  I declined and said if it turned out well, he could see it in the online gallery. He replied something along the lines of, “So, you can just go home, edit and then only show your best work?” Exactly. Why would I want to do anything else?

Anyway, here is an example of an extreme edit. One of those images that I consider to be turned into a real piece of art. Following the color edit are 2 conversions to black and white. The first is simply converted to black and white with a touch of a button. This is what happens when one checks the “black and white” box and prints a color file in black and white.  The second black and white is custom made and much less flat.

Please note that I understand that not everyone has the same preferences that I do. There will be some of you that prefer the 1st black and white, and the 1st straight out of the camera shot to the original. I understand this and just wanted to show the difference a full edit can make. It’s easy to see a finished project side by side with the original and think the new one is overdone. However, you take that finished image alone and it looks natural and beautiful. As a test to see what I mean, read through this post, and look at the pictures 1 by 1. Then scroll slowly back up. You’ll notice that the first color photo (fully edited) looks much more natural following the flat black and white edit.

1. Straight out of the camera:

2. Full edit:

3. The full edit simply converted to black and white:

4. Custom created black and white: