Category Archives: Photo

Perfect Photos

Here are some quick hints to make your pictures perfect.

Make sure to have an engagement picture session. This will allow you to get to know your photographer. More importantly, for your photographer to know you. We like to know if you are sensitive to light, blink a lot, have a favorite side or a favorite smile. Your photographer could get some background information on your family members if there is some tension between family.

When taking group shots remember to focus on the photographer. Contrary to popular belief, the adults are usually the ones not looking at the camera because they are trying to get the kids to do something. Children will do what they do. If the adults are not worried and looking ahead, it is easier to get that perfect picture when the munchkins do look up and smile.

Lightroom 3 by Adobe systems is out. Being a digital photographer this is a must have tool for me. Having been part of the Lightroom 3 Beta I have fallen in love with this program all over again. This is a program that I think everyone who takes a lot of pictures should be using. With this new version I am so excited about a couple of great features, though there are more than I can list out here. My first favorite feature is the new tethered feature. This means that when I am doing portraits or a product shoot I can see things on the laptop as I am capturing pictures.

My other favorite feature is the new vignette feature. Instead of just simply painting black to darken the edges of a photo and draw the attention of the viewer to center. Adobe has made the vignettes sensitive to highlights and color. It makes for a much better effect and it looks so much better. I will try putting up a sample of the new vignettes later in the week.

If you want to learn more about Lightroom or Photoshop I can’t recommend Kelby Training or Photoshop User Magazine enough. If you want to watch Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski show off some of the other new features check out the Lightroom 3 Learning Center. I love their stuff and they always do a great job explaining the new features of the latest Adobe products. Lightroom is one of those tools as a photographer that I just couldn’t live without. Have questions drop me an email at Luminary Photo or hit up my contact page at LuminaryPhoto.com.

An Inspired Wedding

As a photographer I get to find inspiration everywhere when taking photos. As a good photographer it is what you do. You capture a simple moment with beauty and grace. Often that inspiration comes from me. Noticing the way light falls across someone’s face or a beautiful vista, or capturing a child in a pure moment, those are what get the juices flowing.

When I am hired to shoot someone’s wedding or event or even portrait, I have to be inspired (it is my job). Much like my last entry, a connection with this person is critical. Inspiration is contagious as are many emotions. Many of my best wedding photos are not me being inspired but capturing the bride, groom and family’s inspiration of the day. Not surprisingly, that inspires me all over again.

I find that most people inspire me when they love what they are doing. Seldom do I see photos that are great when people are nervous or worried. Now I am not talking about the worried you are when you are contemplating the rest of your life. I am talking about the worried if the head table is missing a particular flower or a glass is dirty, or Dad forgot his cummerbund.

I see brides often forget what is important about their wedding day (grooms too). I see them fretting over the way the cake sits on the table. I think that you should forget about the small stuff. You have planned your wedding for a year or 6 months. You have all the people there that you love and you are ready to begin the important journey of being a family. You did all the heavy lifting months ago, time to enjoy your day and forget the rest.

If you want GREAT wedding photos, be inspired by the love, life and family you are creating. Your photos will show it and your guests will know it. Forget about the flowers showing up 2 minutes late. In the grand scheme of themes you will have far more important things to worry about later, your wedding day shouldn’t be one of them, just enjoy!!!

If you want to see how Luminary Photo can help you capture your wedding in this care free sort of way and capture you inspiring everyone at your wedding contact us Dave Alton at Luminary Photo.

Make a Connection

Love is Blue Your Photographer performs a multitude of roles at your wedding or event. We play event planners, time keppers, smile makers and a whole host of other things. In my many years of business I have turned down many brides. It wasn’t always because there was a scheduling conflict, but there wasn’t a connection. Over the years I can honestly say that most of my brides and grooms are still friends. We aren’t best friends or anything but we enjoy interacting socially and have a good time when we talk.

As a photographer it is immensely important to have a connection with the bride and groom and vice versa. Without that connection good photos are difficult and great photos are impossible. When you meet with your photographer make sure you are comfortable with them. Do they have a personality that you can work with? Is it someone who you feel like yeah I would like to sit down at dinner and just talk to them?

We at Luminary Photo would love to sit down with you and find out if we have a connection so that we can make the pictures of your wedding great. Contact us at Luminary Photo.

The First Time

So here it is again I am trying the blog for Luminary Photo. This Blog is going to cover three main areas. One, I want to help those of you out there that are looking to be better photographers. I don’t know everything about photography, but I know a lot. I think if I ever stop learning or being excited by it then I likely won’t do it any more, so ask me your questions and I will see what I can answer along with the community. Two, I want to share the great clients that I take pictures of. Three, I am going to re-post interesting articles that I find about photography.

I think as time goes on there will be more that gets put here but let’s start with that. Look for posts once a week or whenever there is a client photograph that I want to share with you. I will try and keep up with a regular posting schedule of Thursday.

Tell me what you want to hear about and I will see about using your question as a topic to a larger discussion. Please enjoy and have fun!

Dave