Sarah's Underwater Portrait Session

I have been wanted to photograph underwater for a long time. When I had a wedding couple intereted in a different kind of trash the dress session, I suggest doing it underwater and they loved the idea. When I met with Sarah and her mom about her Bat Mitzvah and found out that her theme was underwater/ocean I knew we had to photograph her portrait session underwater as well.

Photographing underwater was definitely a challange, but the results have been fantastic. I'll be posting some behind the scenes images, info, and video (thank you Julia) in a later post.

   

Avery's Bat Mitzvah {Temple Beth Hillel, Guy's North - Studio City, Ca.}

I was truly honored to photograph for Avery and her family. I had the opportunity to photograph for her older sister Jordan a few years ago (my first bat mitzvah) and have photographed a handful of items for the family since. It always means a lot to me when a family calls me to photograph for them multiple times and this is definitely a family I enjoy working with.

If you were to look up "fun-loving" in the dictionary there would be a picture of Avery's family next to the definition (hopefully one of my pictures). Though the late afternoon was fill with photographing numerous family members and Avery buring off her nervous energy before the afternoon ceremony, the entire day was filled with fun and a lot of family love.

Congratulations Avery!

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

Sandy Puc Hands On Photography Workshop {Long Beach, Ca.}

Last Friday I had the opportunity to attend the "Sandy Puc Hands on Photography Workshop" in Long Beach. I wasn't originally planning on attending this workshop, I actually didn't even know about it until the Tuesday before. I had planned on attending a Sal Cincotta wedding photography business seminar on Tuesday, but waited too long to register and missed out. That same day I received an e-mail offering me the chance to attend Sandy's workshop for free. I jumped at the chance.

I will say that I didn't necessarily learn anything I didn't already know (which was disappointing because there so much more I want to know), but I got to work with some outstanding photographers including (Kevin Focht, Travis Gadbsy and Jason Groupp). This experience reaffirmed that I'm photographing correctly and taking my work in the right direction. Below are some of the results with some explanation on how they were shot and a few behind the scenes photos. There were a couple models (Brianna and Amanda) that were usually with the group I was photographing with, so you'll see a lot of the same face.

Thanks for this opportunity Sandy!

  
The above shots were done using natural light and a silver reflector for some fill.

  
The above shots done using natural light only.

  
The above shots were done in doors using studio lighting. The image on the left was shot using a direct light with a grid. The image on the right was shot with a beauty dish.

All the images below were shot in the hotel pool using nothing but two tungsten flash lights and a backdrop. This was a great way to achieve this look and very simple!

  

And now a few behind the scenes photos

Kevin Focht discuss natural light and natural reflectors.

Travis Gadbsy in the pool making it all happen.