David and Tori Ray came on consecutive weekends for their senior pics. Tori graduated last year and David this year. I had a great time with these siblings. Best wishes guys.

Wedding Photography: 2 Minute Drill

The best way I've come up with to describe the job of being a wedding photographer is Football's two minute drill. You know, Peyton Manning takes the field, down by 6 with only 2 minutes in the game. He calmly calls the plays, and takes his shots. He better be dead on accurate or a defensive back will take him for a pick 6. If he does well his reward is the touchdown and roar of the crowd. He's got just two minutes and he'd better be brilliant. Alot of pressure right.
Compare this to my job. In Wedding Photography the photographer is the quarterback. The time between the ceremony and reception are your two minutes. You have this short time to take pictures of the wedding party , family members and most importantly the couple. I usually have less than ten minutes with the couple per wedding. You've got to call your shots, expose accurately and be dead on with their and your vision of the perfect pics. You better be brilliant , you better make it memorable or your next job could be shooting a birthday party a Chuckee Cheese. Bride's today demand unique, beautiful and artistic shots. And you've got very little time to deliver that. A groomsmen headed to the wet bar early, a bratty child, or broken equipment could all steal precious time from the most important pictures of your client's life. Alot of pressure right. But if you pull it you'll here the applause. In this case the applause is the next job you could get from this wedding party or a kind word said about your work. Or better yet a large purchase from a pleased relative.
So if you want to be a wedding photographer you better have your zen strapped on. A cross word could loose your next job as quickly as a bad shoot. You must be calm but direct. Patient but in charge. Move quickly but don't hurry. Be brilliant but still get them to the reception before the appetizers are done. Channel your inner Peyton. He's the best , the zen master and you must be too. So go forth little grass hopper and score your touch down. Combining sports, eastern religious analogies and photography. What other blog gives you that. Signing off , Jon Amonette

Matt Hall came as a spectator to his brother Alex's Senior Pictures two years ago. This year it was his turn. Matt and his mother Suzzanne came out to shoot his pics this October. Good to see you guys again. I had fun.