Posted on August 8, 2010

CONFESSIONS OF A PHOTOGRAPHER

Thoughts by Rich

A little something about photographers that you may not know is that we routinely look at the work and websites of other pros. We do this to find inspiration and get some fresh ideas. Unfortunately for me…and probably for others…it can be somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster. Let me explain. In Charlotte, North Carolina alone there are so many great photographers. And while looking through portfolios I can really appreciate the abundance of talent, not just here but throughout the country, and even the world.

-then it starts-

I begin comparing my photos to theirs. I begin questioning my own ability and talent. And sometimes I wonder if I should even be a photographer. I try hard to remember the many rave reviews I have received, the encouragement from family and friends, and most importantly, the excitement and gratitude from a very satisfied customer. But the photography industry is just so saturated, and there are so many varying styles. What makes a client want to hire me instead of the next guy (or girl!)?

-What sets me apart?-

There are some photographers that will plan ahead to capture a single vision. They will buy props, arrange a specific background, and set up exact lighting to achieve the look they are going for. The photo becomes very much like a piece of art. But some choose to do a special editing technique, adding color tones or overlaying graphics to create a grungy look. And others may only offer black and white, or choose to have high color saturation.

-the search-

So I wondered, what do I offer? What is my style? As I began looking through my own images, it didn’t take long to see that I was most drawn to the real smiles, the real laughs, and even the real tears. It was the mother looking at her daughter while she laughed. It was the father snatching up his daughter as she ran by. In those moments, the joy and the love just leaps off the photograph. And often it’s such a fleeting moment, that I feel thrilled to have captured it. These are what I call, genuine moments. And discovering this brought me back to the conversation Heather and I first had when we discussed our business name and our slogan. It was so important to both of us that we gave our clients an honest representation of the day we spent with them. How they felt, what they experienced, and what they loved! I had just never thought of it as our style.

-What does all of this mean for the future?-

Now that I have narrowed in what I love most, on what I want to give my clients, and what our style will reflect, I can work on perfecting it. As much as I can appreciate the photos that look like a work of art, what is most important to me is keep your portraits genuine. Real. True to who you are at this point in your lives. Because we believe the photos that evoke memories and emotion are the photos that will you most cherish for years to come. So while the future is unknown for us at RaeElle Photograpy, one thing we know for sure is that we can’t wait to capture more genuine moments of everyone we work with. Until next time keep shooting – Rich

Posted on July 8, 2010

SISTERS & BEST FRIENDS

Thoughts by Rich

I took this photo while on vacation in North Myrtle Beach, SC. A few hours prior to leaving for the beach I decided I was going to make it a “real” vacation and leave the DSLR cameras at home. The whole family really enjoyed the relaxing time off! Then one morning, Heather noticed this open field next to our hotel and suggested we take a picture of our girls there. As soon as I saw it, I immediately had a vision of the photograph I wanted to take.

-make do-

The camera free vacation was suddenly over and I was now regretting my decision to leave ours at home. As a photographer, I know that a photo is not just about the camera you use. You also have artistic vision, composition, lighting, and editing to help create a beautiful image. But it has been a few years since I have used anything but a DSLR to take a picture. A point-and-shoot camera would take a lot of the control out of my hands. So the challenge was on! I grabbed my mom’s pink, point-and-shoot camera (yes I said pink), adjusted as many settings as I could, and leaned on basic photography rules and principles to capture my vision.

-moment of truth-

When we arrived back home I was able to look at the image on a large screen, make some editing adjustments, and add the finishing touches. I walked away with a beautiful image…and it all started with a vision and a point-and-shoot camera. This experience just confirmed to me that the camera is only one tool used to get a stunning photograph. And in many cases, it isn’t the most important one. Until next time keep shooting! – Rich