Visual Impact vs. Perfection

I read and interesting article this morning over at Chase Jarvis' Blog, focusing on Stock Photography. It got me thinking about pictures, in general.

What do you like about a picture? Is it the content, composition, shadows, highlights, emotion, perfection, noise (or lack of), the "effect", etc... ??

Think about it.

For me, sometimes it is the Imperfections that make it more pleasing and create a better visual impact.

Here is an example of one of my favorite photographs, I have made. I have a 20x30 canvas in my studio of this photograph. There are imperfections about this image (ie, the baby's head is cut off, LOL!), but I wouldn't change it for the world.

(Image captured in black and white, contrast and noise added in Post Production)

Bray in the snow.

Bridget and Bryleigh left for Florida this morning to visit Bridget's father. After we dropped them off at the airport, Brayden and I played in the snow for a bit and snapped a few shots. It was snowing so hard, that we had to go into the woods a bit, to get a good portrait of him. He is such a ham.

I shot all of these except the last image with off camera flash. I handheld my SB-800 (with diffuser attached) to high camera left.



My fav = This is Bray




I used High Speed FP Flash Sync (iso 200, f2.8, 1/640) on this one, to get a shallow depth of field. I also desaturated this in post production and added a slight blur around the edge.




Off to an exciting weekend with the boys. We are going to have some fun! Have a great weekend!

btw - Happy Birthday JLB (1/29/98)... We love and miss you!

iPhone and Inspiration

Two very important tools that I use are my iPhone and Inspiration. A friend of mine sent me a link to Strobist.com that connects the two nicely. (this article aside, if you do not have an iPhone, you are missing out!)

I love Strobist.com! It is a wonderful resource for DIY off camera lighting and simplification. It is proof that you do not need big, bulky, expensive lighting equipment with you all of the time. So if you are iPhone impaired and Strobist.com impaired, now you have no excuse, get busy! You will thank me later.

OK tying the iPhone and inspiration together. The article discusses using the iPhone to snap pictures of pictures, that inspire you (specifically the lighting) and keeping them with you on the phone to access easily. The author talks about using iPhoto to to organize and sync. I tweaked this method to use Lightroom instead (if you have questions, email me).

Here is a link to the article - Strobist: Keep a Lighting File

I think this is a great idea to have a Pocket Inspiration with you. In my home office I have a wall covered with magzine photos that inspire me. Here is a portion of my wall:


So, now when I am out browsing the magazine racks or books, I can take a snap if it inspires me and keep it with me. Give it a try. Happy Sunday!

Saving Images for the Web

Answering another question here.
Question: Why do my images look dull once I post them to my blog or website?

Once you dive into Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop or applications similar, it is easy to be overwhelmed with the "little details" of Photo Editing. Consistency between what you see in the application vs. what you see is pretty simple.

This question came from a Photoshop User, so I will address in Photoshop CS3 Terms (this is what I use). This question also leads me to believe that there is an issue when Saving the image for web use. Here is a good way to do it:

1. Open, Edit and Resize your image to taste.
2. Goto the Edit Menu, select "Convert to Profile" and Make Sure the Destination is 'sRGB IEC61966-2.1'. If the source already says 'sRGB IEC61966-2.1', then you can click cancel. (Web Browsers render sRGB well)
3. Goto File->Save For Web & Devices. In the top right corner, you will see a little arrow. Click this and make sure that Use Document Color Profile is selected.
4. Settings as Jpeg, Optimized, High, Quality = 60
5. Save the file in directory of your choice.
6. Upload and compare.

This should look pretty consistent for you now. Using Photoshop's Save For Web feature also creates a small file size and strips metadata that is not needed for viewing.

Here is an example of right vs. wrong.
This image was saved by the method above.


This was saved without the 'Document Color Profile' selected.


The difference is subtle, but the skin tones on the second image are a little pale. The top image looks just like it does when I open it in Photoshop.

Hope this helps!

Shoot N Learn - Recap (plus baby burke's first pic!)

Last night was another successful Shoot n Learn gathering. Our main topic for the evening was "Connecting with your Subject". We watched a few short video clips and then traded tips, tricks, etc.. It was an excellent discussion. I truly enjoy having everyone in for these. It has been such a great way to connect, share, learn and teach. We are all winners at the end of the night.

Our attendance is both professional, aspiring amateurs and just folks that want to make better photos! I applaud all of you for wanting to mingle and step up your game. I learn something every time we get together.

There is no such thing as a "dumb" or "naive" question. I was a beginner too and remember being intimidated by professionals. Mainly because the professionals were "grumpies" and not "love cats". I strive to be a "love cat". I still have questions and love to share. The only way to learn is to ask, study and take action. Making mistakes is a great way to learn ;-)

Since a few questions were asked last night, I wanted to share here because I know more of you out there have the same questions:
Question: What ISO do you use?

This depends on the situation and can be a very detailed response. ISO dictates how sensitive your digital sensor is to light. The HIGHER the number, the more sensitive it is to light. Also, the HIGHER the number means the colors, contrast, saturation, etc.. may become compromised. With the latest and greatest sensors, that decline in quality is less noticeable.
So my short answer to this question is: I use the LOWEST ISO Possible for the given situation. If I am outside on a Sunny Day, I am going to shoot at my camera's lowest ISO setting of 200. If I am at a reception I am typically between 800 and 1600 ISO.

Question: How do you change your exposure on your camera?

A digital exposure has 4 ingredients: ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, White Balance. A Digital SLR camera gives you the freedom to change each of these settings. This is what makes an SLR so special. You can control your exposure to achieve YOUR desired results. The key is understanding the relationship between these components and knowing how to change them on your camera. Shooting in MANUAL mode is the best way to learn, but it takes time and practice. I will have more on this at a later date for you.

Question: What is a Pocket Wizard?

A Pocket Wizard is a remote trigger for firing off camera flash or cameras. They are very cool and extremely useful. Their website can explain a lot better than I can. I use Plus II.

Hope this is useful to somebody out there ;-)

I can't post without a picture, so I will leave you with our first glimpse of Baby Burke:
Isn't He/She Lovely ;-) ?

Commercial Photography - skinnyjeansforever.com

I have been doing some commercial photography lately and wanted to share a DVD cover that I shot for Nancy Griffin of SkinnyJeansForever.com. Nancy and I have worked together a few times, creating images for her branding and demonstration purposes.

The majority of the work we do has been in studio on white seamless paper. She will be using these images throughout her websites and newsletters demonstrating different exercises for her readers/clients.

Nancy is an amazing individual! She is Awesome at what she does and is really in tune with the body. She is an expert in Pilates and has many different training programs to offer, even for Golfers. If you are looking to tone up and get healthier, be sure to visit her site and contact her!

Getting Organized - Software Tip

Something that we always evaluate is organization. Systems and Organization are keys to running a successful business.

IMHO to be organized is to keep things simple. I love USEFUL software. One of my favorite pieces of software is Backpack.
What is backpack?

Backpack is a web-based service that makes organizing your information incredibly easy. Backpack lets you make pages which can contain any combination of notes, to-dos, images, files, etc. You can keep these pages to yourself or share them with colleagues, co-workers, friends, or family.

I use backpack as a mini-project management tool. I have a few template pages that are a series of note sections and to-do lists. We duplicate these pages and rename them for every project (ie shoot/wedding) we work on. It is a breeze to use and keeps us incredibly organized. We can see where we are in each project. When the project wraps, we simply email a copy of the page and then remove it from the list.

If you are looking to try something new for organization, give backpack a try! They offer a free version that allows you to create 5 pages. If you only have a few jobs at a time, this will be perfect for you.

shoot n learn

shoot n learn january

Hey everyone! I am ready to kick off 2009 with this month's shoot n learn. I have been thinking about a lot of different things we can talk about. Lately, though the topic that has been on my mind the most is Connecting With Your Subject.

It's one thing to be technically savvy in the way we approach a photograph. Great Lighting, Correct Camera Settings, Memory Card with free space :-), Composition, Clothing, Setting, Temperature, etc.... The "tech" list goes on and on. I see many good photographs every week, however I think that these "good" photographs have the potential to be great! My photographs included, of course.

I wish I could create a great image/portrait with every snap of the shutter, but lets be real. It doesn't happen that easily. There is an ingredient that is often missing from a photograph: a connection.

I thought we could kick off the new year with discussing this essential ingredient. How are you connecting with your subjects? Whether you are creating portraits or shooting journalistically, this ingredient is VITAL.. Let's talk, share, shoot and learn and see if we can make it improve this for all of us!

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and new faces!

Here is the skinny:

• When: Tuesday January 20, 2009 @ 7:00PM


• Where: My studio 633 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15228


• Who: YOU! If you want to create better pictures, c'mon out!


• Why: So we can help each other and make new friends!


• RSVP by 1/16/09: David Burke

Shoot N Learn - December & Miscellaneous

Hey all! So we are mid November and I realize that I am not going to be able to have a SNL this month :( The good news is that we have been extremely busy/productive here and things are going great. I have also scheduled the next Shoot N Learn for Tuesday December 9, 2008, 6PM @ my studio. We will be SHOOTING this time! We will work in the studio, shoot, learn & have fun. Sound good? I hope to see you all there!!

In other news we have been shooting like crazy, editing, doing albums etc... Please bear with us if you are on our list.. We are getting to you soon ;-) We have experienced some growth lately and have been granted some incredible opportunities. Life is Good! I am headed to Cabo next week to shoot a wedding and am bringing along my good friend/photographer, Kenny Kim. Good Times for sure!

Home has been fun! Bryleigh will be 1 next week! I cannot believe it. She is so stinking cute! She smiles, 24/7. She is so smart and tries so hard to have a conversation. She will sit with me and just hang out for hours. She really loves her 3 older brothers too (and of course Mommy!). Each time one of us walk in a room, she lights up like a Christmas tree with Joy. She reminds me of how WE need to be. Much like the behavior of a dog that is unconditionally happy to see his owner, always! Please keep Bridget in your thoughts and prayers as she has not been feeling very well this first trimester. Hopefully she will be out of the sick days soon and be her happy self again. We love her no matter what! She is my hero for being able to maintain a household, keep the kids in line, keep ME in line all the while being sick constantly. I am the luckiest man around!

The more I think about having 5 children, the more excited I get. Each day I learn what is "Really" important and things that "Really aren't" important. Lots of fun.

OK, sorry for the tangent there. I need to blog more. I need about 24 extra hours a day. Thanks for letting me chat for a minute!

Can't post without a picture. Here is one from a recent family session.

The White Sessions

I love the clean simple portraits and I love Black and White. I have decided to do a few signature sessions for a limited time in the studio. The first of these sessions is The White Session. We are doing the White Sessions November 13-15 here in our studio. We have set times right now, but may expand the timeframes if needed.

The goal is to create clean, simple portraits of individuals, couples & families (1-4 max) while wearing white. We are working in 20 minute mini sessions on a grey or white background. Bring along your personality :-) Happy, Mad, Sad, Goofy. The choice is yours. We will have fun!

These portraits make great gifts for those that love you!

Please follow this link to the PDF and contact us if you would like to set up a session. I look forward to seeing you here at the studio!

Lightroom 2.1 Update

For all of you photographers out there using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0. In case you have not gotten the update notice, you can get version 2.1 HERE. It fixes some bugs and adds some more camera support.

We have been loving LR 2.0. The Camera Profiles are killer for Raw files! The Adjustment Brush is killer too. Photoshop will be a thing of the past soon. At least for our workflow. :-) Enjoy!

Shoot N Learn - October

I am happy to announce the next Shoot N Learn. This month's Shoot N Learn will feature Cory Ann Ellis from South Dakota. Cory Ann is a very talented photographer specializing in Weddings and Intimates. Cory Ann has agreed to share her knowledge on shooting and marketing 'Intimates' with us. I would venture to say that this workshop is definitely geared towards the ladies in photography :-) I personally do not shoot Intimates (for obvious reasons!), but I think there is a TON of value in what Cory Ann has to share. If you are interested in Intimates photography, I can refer you to a wonderful friend of mine... Heather Lahtinen! Heather will be here as well, since she is hosting Cory Ann at her home.

We would love to have a shoot demonstration so we are looking for a model that will be comfortable posing in a Bikini Top, Jeans and/or a White dress shirt. I promise it will be very tasteful. If you know of anyone that would like to model, please shoot us an email to david@davidburkephoto.com. If we do not have a model Cory Ann has enough discussion material that we can chew on. Marketing alone is a fantastic topic to cover.

I am super excited for this month's Shoot N Learn!!! Hope to see you all here and see some new faces!

• When: 10/15/08 @ 7:30 PM


• Where: David Burke's Studio (633 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15228)


• Who: YOU


• Topic: Marketing and Shooting Intimates - Cory Ann Ellis

Great Blog Post - Seth Godin

Seth Godin writes a blog that I like to read. Seth is a very talented writer specializing in marketing. He has a great post on his blog today "Is effort a myth?". It is some good food for thought!

Check it out.

Click on the Pic of Seth to check it out:

New Portfolio site.

Hi All,
I have a new Portfolio site that I am excited to share with you. I had not updated my main website in such a long time, because it was so cumbersome to update. I finally found a great solution to host my portfolio and could not be happier! It is so easy to update, so I will update often! I promise!

The actual site is hosted at http://davidburkephotographers.com but is accessible from http://davidburkephoto.com by clicking on Portfolio. I want all of my sites to be accessible from my main domain of davidburkephoto.com. It is still a work in progress, but we are getting there!

This new Portfolio will showcase my Wedding and Engagement work only. I may launch another site in the near future to showcase my other work. Since Documentary Weddings are my primary focus, they need to be separate.



Since my goal as a Wedding Photographer is to be Real, Classic & Timeless, it was important that my site be clean and simple. I did not want anything too flashy. I also decided not to use music. I always find myself turning the music off when I visit websites. What do you do? I would love to know. If you like music on sites, please do tell ;-)

I am working a lot on my brand and have a lot of things coming down the pipe so that I can continue serving my clients with the best of me. I look forward to sharing!

Michael and Anna Costa - Recap

Last night was wonderful here at the studio. Michael and Anna Costa were here and gave a presentation on Standing Out in the Industry. It was extremely inspiring and informative. We had a great group of photographers here, thank you all for coming. We also missed the few that could not make it. (You all missed out! ;-) )

Thank you to Michael and Anna (and Pictage for sponsoring the tour!) for coming here and sharing. You two were awesome and I look forward to seeing you again soon. Your inspiration and creativity is incredible. Thank you for helping us remember why we love photography in the first place!

Here is a snap of our group:

Pocket Wizard Plus II - A Testimonial

I was about to write a testimonial about Pocket Wizard PLUS II Transceivers but decided to post a quick video instead. Check it out!



I purchase my Pocket Wizards from B&H Photo/Video

David Burke Photographers - Pocket Wizard PLUS II Transceivers

ProPhotoHub

My buddy Ray Santana (Miami-based Wedding Photographer) recently launced a new website for the Wedding Photographer Industry, called ProPhotoHUB. Do your self a favor and bookmark his new site, so you can save time surfing the web for all of the latest and greatest equipment and news in the industry! It is so easy to sit down and get caught up for hours searching sites and forums when wanting information. Ray is taking a lot of that work off of your plate!

He is also posting interviews with top name wedding photographers. It is always a joy to read and learn from successful people!

Alright, enough reading.. Go check out ProPhotoHUB and then get back to work!

David Burke - Documentary Wedding Photographer

Advent Conspiracy

Hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner!

Lately all we seem to hear is "Change, Change, Change...." Eventually it all starts to sound like the teacher on Charlie Brown "mwua, mwua, mwua, mwua, mwua...." and our ears go numb. Change only occurs with action. Change also begins within ourselves.

Keeping this in mind, I came across this video yesterday and it really got me thinking. Regardless of your Religious beliefs, I think you should watch it. It is a two minute video that speaks volumes... Wouldn't it be something if we made a little change this Christmas season? Changing from within ourselves and teaming up with others would and could really make a difference!

I wanted to share this because I really want to make a difference in people's lives. I hope this touches you and anyone you share it with!

Check it out HERE.

Liz and Tim - The Wedding!

Liz and Tim's Wedding finally arrived on 9/6/08! We decided to work together over a year and a half ago, so needless to say we were really excited for this day to come! We did their engagement at the end of Summer '07. Fortunately we got together a few times in between there to keep in touch. That is always fun!

Everything took place down in Oakland, near the University of Pittsburgh Campus. They were married at St. Paul Cathedral and held their reception at Carnegie Music Hall. We started at the Holiday Inn where the wedding party was getting ready and then headed right over to St. Paul's. St. Paul's is Gorgeous! The lighting is great compared to most churches in the area. I was excited that I did not need to use flash for the processional, thanks to my Nikon D3. (*Techie Geek Speak ISO 3200 Color images are INSANELY gorgeous)

It was beautiful when Liz's parents walked her down the aisle and gave her away to Tim. I love these types of moments!

After the ceremony they had a parade, complete with a Saxophone Player, walking from St. Paul's to the Carnegie Museum. It was priceless. We captured so many great images at this time.

Once the reception was kicking it was an all out party all night, thanks to Jeremy Ganss. If you ever need a DJ, Jeremy seriously rocks! I asked him if I could hire him just to come to my studio and mix all day. LOL!

Thank you Liz, Tim and Family! You guys are awesome and I can't wait to see you again! Enjoy Italy!

Here are a few pics:
Shoes


Tim


Liz






Ken and Jeanie giving Liz to Tim.


The Parade




First Dance (Thanks Kristen!)


Reception Fun!




Vendor Info:
Cake - Cakes By Tammy
Flowers - The Blooming Dahlia
Entertainment - Jeremy Ganss

David Burke Wedding Photographer - Carnegie Music Hall Wedding - St. Paul's Cathedral Wedding - David Burke Documentary Wedding Photographer

Email Down.

If you have emailed us in the last 48 hours, we have not received. We are still moving hosting companies and things are taking longer than expected. If you need to reach us in the meantime, please send mail to davidburkephoto@gmail.com. We hope to be back up and running soon. Thank you for your patience.

David