During the (very low-budget) video, I discuss aspects of my shooting style and an overview of the VSCO package. Here is a quick list of what I cover -

• My photographic style and why VSCO Film works for me
• A walk-through of the different film emulsions included with the package
• I briefly touch on how VSCO Film works
• The additional preset “toolkit” items included with VSCO Film
• How to integrate the presets into a Lightroom workflow
• and finally, some potential hurdles to watch out for

I think that covers it for today. I certainly aim to produce better videos in the near future. Speaking of which, I will have more coming soon specifically for photographers. Also take a moment to check out what we are up to now on Facebook.

P.S. – This one video took me 9 takes and a barzillon edits. Please be kind

See y'all soon,
Hunter

So different in fact that directly comparing film to a digital photo processed with VSCO Film makes sense. So below are two photos shot in my Cleveland studio within minutes of each other. One is definitely film and one is definitely digital (no tricks, I promise). The setup and lighting is nearly identical for both, although I did move a reflector further away for the one on the left.

So a simple question – which one is film?

Feel free to sound off in the comments. I’m really curious to see how the guesses shake out. I’ll clear up which one is which after Thanksgiving. I will also be adding another post with some VSCO Film recipes that I have been experimenting with. For now, have a great Thanksgiving!

Update – the film image is number 2 (on the right). It seems that was what most people guessed. I am continuing to experiment with VSCO Film and it really is producing some great results. I will have more to share soon.

P.S. – In case someone is curious, the film photo is Kodak Tmax 400 shot at 200 and processed in Rodinal 1+50 for 10 minutes. I love this combination!

See y'all soon,
Hunter

So, below are a collection of recent scenery shots from around Cleveland and Lakewood. Some of you may even recognize the locations. When I saw the alliteration between the images, I knew I had to post them.

Above is the Cleveland Jazz and Rib fest held each Memorial Day weekend.

I have always wanted to photograph Blackbird’s red door against the green summer ivy.

Most of you will probably recognize the Nautica Queen parked on the Cuyahoga River is downtown Cleveland. I just love how the film was able to handle the bright white while also opening the shadows. It really does amaze me sometimes. So, that’s a bird, a boat, a bike and a bridge. For those that get into the techie stuff, all of the above is Kodak Extra shot on a mix of Mamiya and Hasselblad.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

As we always have, we continue to provide our clients with the very best prints. All wedding prints are printed on true archival-quality photo paper by the best lab available. But as part of the branding redesign, I wanted to make delivery of client proofs into a “gift.” So, we teamed with the best wedding album producer available to create something really special for all of our clients. Cypress Albums helped us to create the Proof Presentation Box.

Like any other print, we give our clients fine-art proofs. The individual proofs are now paired with a archival-quality box for storage and display. Each box is bound in Japanese book-binding silk, features a magnetic closure, and decorative ribbon. So far, the response has been overwhelming. More so, I want to keep each box that arrives, but I am happy to give them to our wonderful clients! Should a client choose, each box can be customized to match their style  in one of many different fabrics.

Our albums have received a similar upgrade. Working again with Cypress, we created the Heirloom and Whistler albums.

Heirloom Album

True heirlooms are build to last for generations. The desire to feature such high quality albums is born from my own experience. I still have prints from my great-grandparent’s wedding. I love the vintage feel and quality of the prints. Each Heirloom albums is custom designed for our clients. After carefully selecting the images, design the layout and choosing fabrics, the albums are then hand-made by Cypress. Each fine-art print is adhered to a very heavy page and bound tightly into the album. Many clients also choose to keep the album safe in a presentation box.

Whistler Album

The approach to the Whistler album matches the Heirloom album – the best build and quality available. The image selection, layout design and fabric selection all follow an identical process. However, there is one key difference between the Heirloom and Whistler albums. Where the Heirloom album pages are like boards, the Whistler has thinner, lighter page cores. Each page is still very thick, but the weight of the book is reduced. Due to the lighter weight, the Whistler sits nice in the hand.

Many of our friends and clients choose the Heirloom album for themselves and order a matching Whistler album for their parents.

Of course I just love showing off our samples. They are filled with create memories from friends and clients. I keep them in our living room as a nice reminder of all the great couples I have met. I am certainly looking forward to crafting many more heirlooms for future couples.

P.S. – Completely unrelated, but I wonder if our dog understands trips in the car. Does she know she’s moving, or does she think the scenery is just changing really fast?

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Before digital, there was only film. Film was a barrier to amateur photographers becoming professionals due to the high cost of film processing and the even higher technical knowledge required. At the time, photography was both a pursuit in the light, and in smelly sulfurous darkrooms. When the digital revolution began, the claim among professional photographers became “film is not dead, yet.” The operable term being “yet.” Now, most children have never seen film and most people believe film is DEAD, dead.

But film has been kept alive in small corners of the world. In parts where digital is too expensive, film is still used. The movie industry is also keeping film alive by buying millions of dollars worth of film for just one feature. Small groups of hipster photographers are helping to keep film alive by clinging to their Leicas and Hassys. And the rest of us have these groups to thank for their dedication!

For consumer and photographer alike, film is still important. Today’s color film produces shades that digital cannot replicate. Trust me, I am foremost a digital photographer. I have tried sooo hard to replicate the look of film with digital equipment. I admired the work of film photographers and wanted to achieve similar color without the expense. It can’t be fully done. Film colors are creamy, vibrant and glowing. They bring a world of range to any collection. And my perception about the expense was mistaken.

Speaking of range, film can be stretched in ways that digital cannot. Digital photos have a definite maximum of light and dark that cannot be exceeded easily. Film, on the other hand, is elastic. You can stretch it hard to achieve a broader range from light to dark. Even the tone and color gradations are smoother than digital. For the photographer or the consumer, this range contributes to the final product.

Specifically for photographers, film should be important for even more reasons. Film solves a lot of problems. First, film equipment is just cheaper. Cameras that used to cost thousands, if not tens of thousands, now sell for next to nothing on eBay. I personally use a Mamiya 645 AFD when working with my Cleveland wedding clients. I also use a Mamiya RB67 for personal work, and I got both cameras for a steal. The price compares so favorably to the latest digital equipment.

Another reason film should remain important is ease of editing. At this point, I only use film for engagement sessions. For those sessions, I shoot both digital and film. The digital files take hours to manage, back-up, edit and upload. With film, I spend 15 minutes packaging the rolls to send to the lab. I spend another 15 minutes downloading the scans and backing them up. Lastly, I spend thirty minutes selecting picks and uploading them to the client. Easy peasy! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend all day in front of the computer.

The last reason why photographers should care about film, that I’ll mention, is range. Film can capture 16-stops of range, which far exceeds the best digital Nikons and Mamiyas of today. Since each stop is twice the light, you can begin to imagine the depth of film. Furthermore, film gives me flexibility like digital. I can rate 400 speed film like it was 800, or even 1600. This lets me shoot in a dark church or reception without concern and with little to no grain. I then just ask my lab to push process the film to get the correct exposure.

So, star or dinosaur? It’s clear digital is the mass-market future of photography. That fact will never change. However, this is a good thing for people serious about photography. Film is no more mass-market than a Ferrari, but they are both stars. If you are serious about photography, film still offers great creative choice. I will never leave digital photography, but I will never leave film either. I use film to give my clients wider range and excellent quality photographs.

Want to learn more about film, I will give you two pointers -

1. Buy and read this excellent guide from Jonathan Canlas
2. Stop reading, go buy a cheap film camera, and explore!

After that, it’s your adventure. Feel free to ask questions here or elsewhere. You’d be amazed all the people and places where film is used today! For a little humor that underscores the points above, check out the video below. It’s Ed Helms (of Daily Show and The Office fame) doing an introduction on digital cameras a few years ago. My how times have changed -

So, what’s next? Take a moment to visit our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

The reason I love my job so much is the people I get to work with. Each couple becomes a friend and we are truly thankful for them. Working hard day in and day out can be tiring. It can really wear you down. However, my job feels more like a calling simply because of the people I see and meet each day. To each of you, thank you!

So, onto some of my favorites. I often focus on the more emotional portraits and candid photos. I think you will see much of that below.

Tacky backgrounds and Kentuckians with a killer sense of humor! It just goes together like, well, like Kentuckians and a killer sense of humor. We were laughing so hard I nearly doubled over.

Those eyes say it all. Bailey looked stunning in her dress and you could almost fall into the reflection in her eyes.

I almost took all of Ethan and Jamie’s wedding photos and added them to this best of post. The people and scenery were just amazing. Even the decorations at the wedding were stunning. Ethan and Jamie’s wedding was also our first ever published wedding! The last candid image is one of my all time favorites. Jamie’s happiness and Ethan’s strength says it all.

I just love the lines in this “candal” (I made that up – candid and formal put together) of Michael’s groomsmen. Captured by our amazing second photographer Michael Kalbo, this is my favorite masculine photo of 2010.

Rachael and Michael just exude happiness together. The sunset lighting for their bride and groom portraits could not have been better.

Dynamic lighting and great food made for some awesome detail photos at Cecilia and Roger’s downtown Cleveland wedding. By the way, if you need a good reception location in downtown Cleveland, I definitely recommend Sammy’s in the Flats.

Evening light for Matthew and Lindsey’s autumn wedding in Elyria. Simply…amazing.

Now, we are ending with some of my all time favorites. This was also our last wedding for 2010. Dusty and Jan’s roof top reveal was truly magical. There is a reason I recommend doing a reveal to all of the couples I work with. I think the photos say it all.

This last one happened quickly and was one of Dusty’s favorites. Sitting just behind Dusty is his brother and best man.

So those are my favorites from this year. Some are familiar and live in my portfolio, while others spoke to me from the day I first saw them. I hope you like them all. Now to end with a little humor – some painful lessons learned this year -

• If you hear a crack from behind, your photo assistant may have just broken the light stand.
• Like golf, shooting film is a frustrating pursuit that is ultimately worth every minute.
• Need a prop? An old polaroid camera works just grand.
• Be a strong leader and your clients will love you. Panic when no one is looking
• Your assistant and second shooter will eat you alive if you forget the Crunchy Peanut Clif Bars.
• And most importantly – if the plan is bad, change the plan.

P.S. – I got Brooke sessions with a personal trainer for Christmas (she asked for it). Today, we decided she now needs a rascal wheelchair because she can barely walk. Even the dog looks at her funny. Again, she asked for it.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Have you heard of Etsy?! Are you kidding me? Well then, let me fill you in. Etsy.com is a community of artists and designers. Each person sets up a shop within Etsy to market and sell their handcrafted goods. And you would be amazed at the quality. Etsy is certainly no flee market.

Here is where it gets better. Etsy has a wedding category! If you want good style, unique items, thrifty prices and handmade, have a look at the weddings category. After just a moment of browsing, here are some of my favorites -

• Silver Aspen Leaf Necklace – for the Colorado bride
• Wood Wedding Direction Sign
• Custom Silhouette Print handmade just for you

Etsy has a great selection in the wedding category and the prices are fair to amazing. You can also make your wedding green and support your community by shopping only for local artists. You would be amazed at how many artists are on Etsy. A ceramic artist neighboring my Cleveland photography studio is on Etsy.

Now for a little DIY inspiration. Check out the wooden table markers and planters I came across at Ethan and Jamie’s wedding. I am sure you could find something like this on Etsy, or make your own with a little inspiration (and a table saw) -

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Holds more than you think - the soft-sided Think Tank Retrospective 20

What it’s not

Before I discuss all the great things the Think Tank Retrospective 20 does well, you have to understand what this bag is not supposed to be. If you confuse the purpose of this camera bag, then you will be disappointed. However, if you understand the niche this bag fills, then you will be elated. Well, very happy at least.

The Retrospective line of camera bags (in sizes 10, 20, and 30) are not general purpose camera bags. Nor are they good bags for travel or storage since they lack reasonable padding or secure zip or clip closures. The Retrospective bags are not great at carrying laptops with cameras. Lastly, while they hold a lot of gear, they are not intended to hold everything a professional photographer needs.

Carrying capacity for the Think Tank Retrospective 20 - D700 with grip, D300, 70-200mm f/2.8 with hood reversed, 24-70mm f/2.8, 14-24mm f/2.8 with hood extended, SB-800 speedlight, spare batteries, memory cards, rain cover, iPhone and car keys with room to spare.

So why are they so special?

The Retrospective bags fill one niche really well – they are the perfect “shoot sack” for working photographers. I cannot tell you how perfect this bag is for comfortably carrying a moderate amount of gear nearly all day long. With the right gear loaded, the Retrospective 20 sits comfortably on the hip with the strap across your shoulder. The strap is built tough, but more on that later.

If you must stuff the Retrospective bag full, have a look at the picture above. The Retrospective 20 can hold all of that photography gear with room to spare. YES, two camera bodies with one grip and three fast lenses. However, I recommend carrying less in the Retrospective 20. In fact, I am wary of the larger Retrospective 30. Carrying too much in either bag is uncomfortable and wears on the shoulders regardless of the excellent strap. For my purpose as a wedding and portrait photographer, the Retrospective 10 is a little small. Then again, I just carry too much gear.

So, simply put – a perfect bag to load up with gear you need access to quickly and often. Perfect for working wedding or portrait photographer, especially when working on location. Definitely not designed to be a travel bag. For travel and storage, move your gear to a well padded and secure bag and simply take the Retrospective 20 along for on-location duty.

Comfortable capacity for the Think Tank Retrospective 20

With gear reduced to what I really need, as seen above, the Retrospective 20 wears well and feels comfortable across one shoulder. However, you can still see that it holds a lot. Leaving out the extra camera body and knick-knacks gives me the right gear and comfort level, especially with a camera and lens in hand leaving the bag partially empty.

If you typically just work with two lenses, say a fast normal and telephoto zoom, then you may be able to get away with the smaller Think Tank Retrospective 10. Personally, I like a little more space in case I need to squeeze in extra gear. Also, all three Retrospective bags can hold an iPad or small laptop in the outer-back zipped pocket. Keeping something large and ridged in this pocket makes it sit uncomfortably on the hip. Leave the laptop or iPad a travel/storage bag.

Spacious internals of the Think Tank Retrospective 20

Retrospective 20 filled with a comfortable gear load - One camera with grip, three fast lenses, speedlight and accessories.

Packed up with a comfortable load, the bag does not wear very “thick” at the waist. My arms move comfortably around the bag when I am walking distances. The bag can slip behind the thigh and stay put while walking – much more so than a single camera hanging from a rapid strap. It simply stays at my back and does not flop around much.

Features make the bag

Features will make or break a decent bag. Fortunately, Think Tank does features better than any other professional camera bag company. I also own the Think Tank Airport Security and have looked at Think Tank’s entire line-up. They all come with thoughtful and useful features, including the Retrospective line of bags.

Retrospective 20 camera bag inner front pocket with the closure flap tucked away for "silent mode"

First, the inner-front pocket seen above has the right amount of well-sized mini pockets. The pockets are great for holding the typical small accessories a professional photographer needs. You can see the Think Tank label in the picture above. That is a flap to secure the inner-front pocket closed. If you don’t want the loud velcro RRRRIIIIPPPP during a wedding ceremony, the flap will secure to the side leaving the pocket open. In fact, all of the velcro flaps can be put into “silent mode.”

The inner-rear pocket of the Retrospective 20 features a zipper closure with a soft cloth pull tab.

The inner-back pocket is one deep well and secures with a zipper. Grabbing the zipper is made easy by the large cloth pull attached to the zipper head. The cloth pull is nice since it won’t scratch or wear photo gear inside the bag, especially LCD screens.

Dual "speedlight" pockets are included on each side of the Retrospective 20 camera bag.

Each side of the bag has a pocket that secures with a velcro flap. These two inner-side pockets seem tailor made to hold speedlights, even the giant Nikon SB-900. The flaps can be secured so the pockets stay open in “silent mode.” Even though these pockets seem designed for speedlights, I prefer to keep my speedlight in the front-outer pocket. This leaves more room inside the bag, enabling fast and easy lens changes.

The best feature - silent velcro. In the velcro in one position the top flap secures. In the other, the velcro won't engage. Brilliant!

Above you can see what I mean by “silent mode”. This is the main flap that flips over the top to secure the entire bag closed. On this flap, you can secure the velcro in “silent mode” so that it does not seal when the main flap is shut. This feature enables silent access to the bag, especially nice during wedding ceremonies. For a wedding photographer, this silent feature is a real dream.

I mentioned at the top this bag is not for general purpose storage and especially not for traveling. The main flap only secures with the velcro. There are no clips or zippers and little padding. Because of this, I do not recommend the bag for gear storage or travel. I use the Think Tank Airport Security to house my lighting gear and a well-padded LowePro backpack for camera gear storage or travel. If you recognize the Retrospective 20′s on-location niche, this should not be an issue. Think of it as a bag supplement.

Then again – bags are like crack to professional photographers. We can never have enough bags.

Comfortable strap - the Retrospective 20 has a well padded and adjustable strap which features anti-slip rubber pads on the bottom

Built tough - the strap anchor points on the bag continue down the sides and under the bottom for security

The last feature worth mentioning is the strap. Again, it is very well designed with the professional photographer in mind. The shoulder pad has three main features. First, it strap pad is thick and provides all day comfort. Second, the bottom of the pad has anti-slip silicone nodules to keep the strap securely on your shoulder. Last, there is a strong friction fit between the pad and the strap. Thus, the pad will not slide out of position on the strap, but the pad can be moved to your desired position.

As for the strap security, just have a look at the last picture. The strap anchor points on the bag are nuclear-strength. Strap webbing continues down the side and across the bottom. In short – this strap will NOT come undone.

Some other nice features:

• A second top strap handle for carrying the bag in your hand
• Available in black or “pinestone” (a soft gray-green)
• Outer-side pockets to hold, um, stuff
• Big outer-back pocket large enough to hold an iPad
• Comes with a weather-sealed rain cover, which can tether to the bag
• Has a lanyard for your keys
• Strap can be easily adjusted for taller or shorter people
• Comes with a couple extra dividers, but you really don’t need them

What’s the downside

Certainly not the on-location niche. However, here is a short list of possible improvements -

• Including a clip on the main flap in addition to the “silent” velcro would give extra peace of mind.
• The bottom of the bag could use a little more padding. I certainly would not want to drop the bag by mistake, even from a short distance.
• The cost – at $159 the price is steep. Then again, professional photography bags from any company are not cheap.

Do I like it? Yeah, you can have my Retrospective 20 when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Update – Google just launched an updated version of their wedding planning tools with a nifty site redesign to boot. Have a look at what they have in store.

I am a huge, huge fan of Google. Did I mention I love Google? Seriously, I would marry Google (don’t tell Brooke). For such a huge company, you would think weddings would be too small of a subject for them. Nope, Google has wedding tools!

Together with Style Me Pretty, Google has launched wedding planning tools based on their popular Google Docs platform. You can do all sorts of cool things with their tools. You can create an online tool for your guests to enter RSVP information. You can collect addresses. You can create an event calendar. And you can share all of this wedding information online between whoever is involved. Just give those participating in the wedding planning access to your wedding planning tools. Brilliant!

You might be asking why use Google when there are other sites like The Knot who offer similar tools. Well, a couple of reasons (did I mention I love Google). The Google wedding tools come with all sorts of existing docs like address lists, budget planner, and to-do lists. The great part is that you can extend what’s there to make the service better for you. If something doesn’t exist, you can make it unlike being trapped into what ever functionality a specialized wedding site decides to offer. Furthermore, Google Docs is used by millions of people. If someone else shares a document or function you like, you can easily add it to you wedding planning site.

Definitely check out the provided video. It features a real couple getting ready for their wedding and discussing how they solved some common planning problems.

Whether you are planning a wedding in Cleveland, Akron, Lakewood or someplace in between, definitely check out these tools. It should make the whole process much easier. As a Cleveland wedding photographer, I would love it if my clients used these tools. It would certainly make it much easier for me to contribute to planning as needed.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

While everyone else is crashing malls and crashing websites today, I am staying home. I am going nowhere near a public place. Instead, I am working on wedding photos all day for my last wedding of the year and catching up on some blogging reading. I was tempted to go to a mall and photograph humanity at its worst, but I don’t want some middle-aged woman to beat me to death with my own camera. So, I am staying in. Here is some interesting reading from around the inter-webs:

Photography deals – Scott Kelby has worked with some vendors to create amazing deals for Monday, November 30th. The actual deals have not been announced yet, but they are bound to be good. Since it will be “Cyber Monday”, I am sure there will be a lot of selection. If you need gear, now might be a good time. Or, inform your family and friends.

Workshops – Editorial portrait photographer Jeremy Cowart is planning a series of workshops in the December and January time frame. The workshops appear to be in the planning stages, but dates have been announced (and adjusted). Jeremy is a fantastic photographer and I am sure the workshops will be worth the money, and they are not too expensive. If you are near Nashville, definitely checkout the workshops. If you go, let us know about your experience.

Ground control to Major Chase – Want to know how Chase Jarvis gets some of his amazing commercial shots? In a recent blog post with video, Chase introduces us to a rig he calls “ground control.”

Yes you can do that – Travel, portrait, and inspirational photographer David DuChemin posted a great, short article on what will hold you back in photography. It is a case on the “coulda, shoulda’s”. Like David, I have suffered from both of these issues from time to time. For example, every time David posts a new image, I think “I wish I could have done that.” He is truly amazing.

Fun family portraits – When you think of family portraits, does it involve Sears and and white background? You are thinking of the wrong thing. I am a location portrait photographer, and so is David E. Jackson. Want to see some killer family photos he did for a fellow location photographer? I highly recommend viewing these family photos. The kids are priceless.

Inspirational work – Not really a blog post, but definitely some inspirational work. Check out Laura Taylor, a portrait photographer in California. Laura has a signature look, which is very California. The group of photographers she works with all have a similar look. Gotta love medium format, and Laura uses it well.

That’s all for now. I will be back sometime soon with more. Maybe next Saturday. OK, back to editing wedding photos.

See y'all soon,
Hunter