We have so many ideas written down, sketched out, just waiting to see the light of day.  Most of the time these ideas take so much work and effort that I procrastinate and put off the project until the concept finally overcomes my laziness and pushes itself out into the real world.  Below is just one of the many ideas that I have sketched out for a project to bring my conceptual “anti-bridal” approach to portrait and family photography.   

above in tights our willing participants in our first antiportrait project: Kiera, Willie, Tivon, Randi, Autumn and Naazir

This was my third time speaking at the DWF convention, which, by the way is made up of the most progressive wedding and portrait photographers in the world.  To be asked to appear and speak to this group just once is such an overwhelming honor, but for a third time…. it just leaves me speechless with gratitude.   A big thank you to those that attended the night time shooting demonstration, below are the images that we shot.

Melissa and René were so generous to model for us, if the images are beautiful it is more because they are such a gorgeous couple and not because of our special techniques.  The above image and two below images were shot with two cheap video lights.

I’ve have been a fan of old “film noir” since I was a child - watching old movies on weekends with my Mom. All of that influence is paying off..  I love, love shadow rich images. 

Need soft light?  The image below was from a 4′x6′ improvised soft box from a table cloth or bed sheet. Camera all auto, flash ttl, no special math. 

The image below was shot with a pocket flashlight borrowed from the audience. 

Above, a group shot (wedding party) using a single flash over multiple frames. Not everyone was in the frame at the same time. 

Below, some good old fashion painting with light using a video light snooted with a glove.

A special thanks to those helping me put.  Above from left to right,  Christina Smith, which I teased a little bit about being my flower girl, the ultra talented “McLellans“, Mel and Sean,  the very hip “Fullers“, Erin and Chad, and the stars of the show - Melissa and René, the blob in the middle is myself, and playing the drunk groomsman at the very right is Jeff who’s wife and my long, long time friend, Rochelle was behind the scenes operating my camera.   Also, an extra big thanks to Ray Prevost for his photoshop mastery during my demonstration…  

below, more painting with light.

-jmc

Just back the other day from an amazing speaking experience, the DWF convention in AZ.  As most know, we have absolutely fallen in love with teaching and sharing the techniques and deepest secrets of our craft.   Now the next thing up on our speaking agenda will be our “veryaltf too” workshop just before WPPI on the 15th and 16th of February.  There will be loads of shooting, instruction, and not to mention, our new and improved “one day wedding workflow” (worth the price of admission by itself).

After the veryaltf workshop, we will be hanging out around WPPI and are planning a little get together Announcement coming soon (read anti-party)

A few days ago we headed out to the dry lake bed to do a demo shoot and a video interview for photographymentor.com.  Curt, Robert and Solomon were up for a brisk and windy Vegas day. 

I was practicing my “Single Flash Multiple Frame” - aka: SFMF technique - aka: “my daylight version of painting with light” that the guys shot on their Canon 5D Mark II’s.  The full tutorial will eventually make it to photographymentor.com - we promise to post when it’s available. For now, their short teaser…

A *warm* thank you to Rachel for standing in as our gorgeous model and freezing her ass of in the process.

We were ecstatic when the Editor in Chief of Bridal Bloom Magazine called to inquire on working with us on a shoot in Las Vegas.  We were on board and, of course, had to call in the “big dog” of Hair and Make-up, the fantastic Ms. Lori White.  Rose, the Art Director at Bride & Bloom found our amazingly talented model, Diana and put together some breathtaking wardrobe combinations for this Rockinrolla’ - type photo shoot at the infamous Neon Museum.

Thanks to all who helped make this shoot so scorchin’!

-dc

What a windy day!  As a lot of people know, I just love the wind.  It is one of those elements that you just can’t predict and always adds so much drama to an image…   While most would cancel a session due to high wind, the beautiful Alicia more then embraced the 30 mph winds and allowed me to shoot her bridal in one of my favorite elements.

-jmc