my response about a rant

i wanted to share my response to a blog entry from another photographer, jared polin. i've mentioned him before in my blog. very cool photog, with cool afro-ish hair, that has shot for Rolling Stones (cool!). his blog is full of tips, stories, songs, video, and funny asides. his blog entry today was a "rant" about how photographers should help other photographers. i thought this was very interesting, seeing that a couple days before he was ranting about newbie photographers breaking into the wedding business in another blog entry. i had to read this,   immediately thinking that these two rants are contradictory. i needed to investigate.

his first rant was about newbies, kind of struck a chord with me. i've been shooting weddings, professionally for about three years now. i still have a day job, that i respect and like. i shoot weddings and portraits because i love the art of photography and the relationships i make with people. i love documenting their joyous moments. it's a challenge to me every time i shoot, to be better. 

at first, i was taken aback by the rant. but i understood it. i was shooting a Nikon camera, fully manual, since i was sixteen years old. i know the basics of darkroom printing and developing. took two photography courses, worked for a photo processing booth and worked as an event photographer in college.  even though i recently bought my first digital camera two years ago and i am so-called a newbie to the business, i do not find myself included in jared's rant.

and..i actually agree with him.

since i just got married (two years ago), i know what it's like to interview many photographers and finding "the one" within a budget. with that said, i also know that wedding photography is something everyone should NOT skimp on. i understand the recession and the economy is not making it easy for all of us. but couples are still getting married. this is a moment that cannot be rewinded, redone, reenacted...this moment is unique because it's your moment. why are you going to leave that in the hands of someone inexperienced, ill-equipped and not knowledgeable of workflow, technicality, and professionalism? your friend may have a fancy camera (doesn't everyone?) but you cannot replace a good "eye" for composition, quality of light, and the skill of anticipating a shot. 

but my friend will do it for less than $1,000 or free! i've heard brides say. you can't put that kind of value on an event and  on memories that will be invaluable to you. i would never want to put that kind of pressure on a friend or family member. they can shoot at your wedding, and give you the pictures, but first and foremost, they are a guest. let the professional photographer be responsible for those important shots. let them carry the burden of fulfilling your wishes.

i always tell potential clients that i want to be their photographer because they like the way i photograph and the rapport we have with each other, not because of my price is lower than my competitor. someone's style of photography cannot be bought. neither can their personality. even with the highest end camera. 

because we are in a recession, does not mean the bride needs to go cheap on everything. i always say, the flowers will wilt, the dress will be stored away, and the cake will be eaten. ten years from now, twenty-five years from now, your wedding album and pictures will be your heirloom, a family tradition, passed on and enjoyed by generations later. most photographers are accommodating and will work with what you need or want. tell them what you want, and if you have the same vision and connection, they may "work" with you on the price. both parties "win," like jared polin says. 

lastly, i do agree again, with jared, that photographers should help other photographers. i am truly grateful for information that i have gained from giving photogs, just in running a business, and giving the best service to my clients. i believe that has become a win-win for both my clients and my business. we pride ourselves on good service, and good products. so, i definitely don't mind "giving back" to the photog community. i love talking about photography! so if you have a question, no question too silly, please let me know !

fave pic of the week

i still haven't uploaded my pictures from vegas (last week's adventure). so i decided to post one of my new fave pix of the week  from bryan and sam's wedding. i finally edited their pix and at this moment, uploading it to their online photo gallery. here is where they can view their pix, as well as share it with their family and friends. purchasing enlargements are easy to do from the online photo gallery, too. the prints from our lab are awesome. i love how they come out. i edit my pix, but the lab also does another once over to check if it's color balanced and corrected, and to ensure the picture appears the way it is intended. 

some people ask, why do photographers charge so much for a  4"x6"? i have a couple responses to that question: 

1. if you have taken a picture by a professional, and are ordering from a professional lab (not a machine/robot), you should be ordering a 8"x10" and up. to appreciate the quality of a print, you have to see it large. (i know that doesn't answer the question, but it addresses my opinion about 4"x6" prints)
2. the .19 cents you pay at CostCo, pays for the machine/robot to process your film and the photo paper. the machine/robot does not know what your skin tone is supposed to look like and/or the exposure your professional photographer intended for your image. i have see green and sometimes blue casts of skin tones that would make a bride shudder at the fact that she looks a shade away from being Dracula's bride. trust me. you want a professional that is trained and works only with high volume wedding and portrait orders to handle your processing of photos. 
3. think of your great grandparents heirloom portrait. this portrait is one of the few images the family has. you've preserved it, framed it, and it will be something that will continue to be passed on from generation to generation. it represents your family legacy---your history. would you turn around and sell it for price of photo paper it was made on? how much would you price a moment in time that you cannot re-stage or re-enact? needless to say, my great grandparents' portrait is priceless...
4. a professional photographer's job is not just to take snap shots. they are there to make sure the moment is captured, the exposure is just right, and that you look back on your pictures and relive your special moments. that perfect image is more than just a sheet of paper. it's symbolic, it's meaningful. it's your life, frozen in time. one day, that image will stop you in your tracks and jar emotions from you again. that image will be more valuable over time, as we grow older and memories are precious.

going back to this photo, that i love. it's very simple. it love the contrast of light and dark. i love the spotlight above the bride and groom. i love the moment. it's a secret moment. you wonder what they're thinking or  talking about. i love the sparkle of her barrette in her hair, and the big ol' grin he has for her. sigh...priceless...

From Drop Box

sacred heart chapel wedding photography: bryan + samantha

bryan and sam. a couple after my own heart. according to the matron of honor, sam knew bryan was "the one" because he loves "Star Wars". Yes, the movie. i think that's so cool. i'm a moderate "Star Wars" geek. actually our whole family is. i've gotten into many philosophical and biblical discussions regarding the saga. "Star Wars" geeks are the coolest!

another reason why we were honored to photograph their wedding, is that they remind us of US when we were young. j. and i met each other when i was in college, and i remember we almost eloped after three months of dating. we were so in love. so looking at sam and bryan brings us back to the ol' days!

they were married at Sacred Heart Chapel, in Covina. Sacred Heart Chapel is a quaint, old-style chapel. perfect for a romantic, intimate wedding, like theirs. richard, the coordinator, was very informative and accommodating. the ceremony was tearful and exactly what the couple wanted. bryan's mother was the minister, and both his father and mother decorated both the church and the reception site, which added a special touch. talking to them, you could tell they were happy to do it for the bride and groom. it's all love, right?

later, we headed to the Radisson Suites in Covina, a few miles away. Radisson Suites had a cute courtyard and fountains to take romantic pictures of the couple, perfect for sam's 40's look (created by Bravo Urban Salon in Pasadena) and bryan's dapper style.

there were so many nice shots, here are just a few. my brother, chad, helped us out as a second shooter, and captured some great shots of the groomsmen! check out the images below. to see more highlights from bryan and sam's wedding, click here to check out their slideshow!

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

sacred heart chapel 381 E. Center St. Covina, CA 91723 626-331-3549 radisson suites hotel covina 1211 e. garvey st. covina, ca. 91724 bravo urban spa & salon 455 s. lake ave. #101 pasadena, ca. 91101 626-577-4777 From Drop Box

santa anita church, arcadia, wedding photography & the hilton, pasadena, wedding photography: roy + germeen

we had to split their highlight pictures into 2 slideshows!!

thank you to Carolyn Simon, at Santa Anita Church, for taking the time to meet with us and learn about the church. the wedding coordinators on the day of the event were professional, and made everything run smoothly! it was beautiful ceremony.

Santa Anita Church

226 W Colorado Blvd
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 446-8206

special thanks go out to Shalom Tinsley, at Pasadena Hilton. she was so welcoming, and helped make Roy and Germeen's day a special one. we had so much fun on the dance floor!! and the catering service was attentive and friendly. we stayed at the Hilton for our wedding night, so it brought back memories. i hear they are renovating, so i'm excited to see the new Hilton!

Pasadena Hilton

168 South Los Robles Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 577-1000

santa anita church, arcadia, wedding photography: roy + germeen

what you put out in the universe, your thoughts and intentions, is what you receive. it's not a mystery how things manifest in our lives, especially after we request it. i remember a time that i stopped dating, and wanted to be alone, to gain perspective, and clarity in my life. i stopped doing the norm, and really immersed myself in solitude and silence. not a normal (or easy) thing for me, mind you. i definitely did not want to meet someone new or date someone new because i really wanted to figure things out for myself. without distraction or drama. then, one day, when i was "ready," i wrote in my journal a list of the person i wanted in my life. it was in detail. specific. down to the stature, the demeanor, and the personality. i wanted someone tall, dark and handsome. i wanted someone who adored me, and showered me with affection. i wanted someone i can feel safe and protected. i wanted someone to see me the way i see myself. that i was worthy. i was special.

a few weeks later, i felt the urge to hang out again with my friends. i was in better spirits, and not somber and introverted anymore. i was feeling brand new. ready to be a better version of myself. before i met my friends at the local bar, i stopped at a gas station, paid the cashier guy, and proceeded to pump gas. that's when he stopped me in my tracks. he was a tall, thin guy in a KFC uniform. he approached me with such a soft spoken manner, i took notice (but i didn't show it, of course!). he asked me my name, and number. of course, i refused. he continued to talk to me about music i was interested in, and what i liked to do on my spare time. i gave him an "A" for effort. i asked him how old was he, and he said he was 19 (i was 22 he was really 18 and in high school). i hopped in my car, and he made a last ditch effort to ask for my number. persistence pays off, i tell ya (and flattery gets you everywhere, for me), so i gave him a lipstick-written version of my number on the back of a bank deposit envelope. it's not like i'm going to marry him...

...that's what i did.

j. was the guy i had asked for in my journal. to the tee. what i put out in the universe, what i ordered. what i requested. and for the last 13 years i can't get rid of him!! (just kidding, j.!!)

when we started our business, we had a rough start. we were nobodys. after many rejections later from strangers, feeling discouraged, a little frustrated, we thought, okay, what kind of clients do we want? what kind of people do we want to serve? if we had a catalog of types of people we wanted to help out, who would they be? it was easy. people like us! people who appreciate photography and the importance of life milestones. people who are down to earth, and friendly. people who are family-oriented. people who like to laugh, and are real. once we wrote that down, we started to receive more positive reactions and interactions. we started to meet interesting people. people that we would probably be friends with in our personal lives.

we met germeen and roy through germeen's sister, mira, whom we had the opportunity to photograph her beautiful family. like mira and her husband, eddie, germeen and roy were down to earth and laughed at our jokes. they have 2 cute, energetic boys, and asked us to include them in our engagement portrait session. we were so happy they asked us to photograph their family and their wedding. germeen and roy met under special circumstances. they have an interesting love story, that i won't depict here. but i have to wonder if they put their request out in the universe, just like i did. looking at them, their love seems meant to be.

i know we were meant to meet them.

here are just some of my favorite pix. check out their slideshow coming soon!!!

martin album pages

love the pix of this wedding. simple. classic love.

www.gjspillerphotography.com/MartinAlbum or click here

karey & eddie's slideshow

or click here to see it in it's own window (full screen!) or copy and paste this link: www.gjspillerphotography.com/MartinShow

karey & eddie: a sneak peek

the event took place at the bride's mother's home.

the flowers were different shades of white. very elegant and classy.

i'm so proud to say the hubby, j., took these great cake pix! what can i say? he's inspired by sweets! mary lou, a family friend, made this wonderful, beach-inspired masterpiece!

there they are! a moment of laughter!

they are so in love. they adore each other.

there's eddie again, making her laugh. making US laugh! makes our job so much easier!

this cute flower girl was dodging me all day. but i was able to catch this great shot!

this boy was such a good sport. i love the starfish theme. LOVE IT!

i vow to....make you laugh. for the rest of your life.

the moment we met karey and eddie, we knew this was going to be a fun, relaxed wedding. we knew that we would have a great time shooting their wedding. they had a disclaimer, that they were not "picture people." generally when people tell me that, i usually prepare myself by anticipating that the couple will feel uncomfortable in front of the camera and that they will not a lot of direction and guidance in composing a natural shot. my goal of the day, is really to capture the moment and capture the personality of the couple. we try to make them feel relaxed, and find the laughter or humor in a stressful situation, which weddings can be. but, this time, it wasn't the case. 

from the moment we arrived at the ceremony site, they were in good spirits-surrounded by loved ones. and so....relaxed. i thought, this is what it's all about. they must be meant for each other. karey and eddie found love, like meg ryan and tom hanks did on  the movie, "You've Got Mail"(j. always brings that up!). they found love online. the power of the internet! (and i guess fate and cupid had something to do with it!)  they couldn't stop hugging, kissing and laughing. oh...she loves to laugh...and he loves to make her laugh. 

karey and eddie are genuine people. they welcomed us in their home as part for the family, and we felt right at home. their friends and family were warm and down-to-earth. and...they are genuinely happy. they talk about each other, like they are each other's air they breathe. karey's speech included talking about being so lucky to have found love again through eddie. and eddie spoke to one of the guests about being so excited to marry karey, he knew this time, this love was real (ok...i paraphrase. but he said something along those lines). 

we wanted to stay and have more tacos and beer, but i wanted to get home and upload these pictures and relive the whole wedding all over again. so if you want to see more pictures from their event, check back later! you don't want to miss it!

thank you, karey and eddie for your hospitality and generosity. oh...and laughter. it reminds me why i married j. 

laughter is truly the best medicine.

roy & germeen: live.laugh.love.

roy and germeen are getting married in nov. last sat., we met up for an engagement session. they asked if we could turn our engagement session to a family portrait session, so they could include their cute boys, sam and anthony. of course! the more, the merrier! 

we met in arcadia park, a very nice shady park with a cool fountain on the corner. my plan was to take pictures by the fountain, have the family sit on the fountain, and possibly have the kids entranced by the water (all kids love fountains) but when we got there, i didn't realize that this particular fountain was really high. so that idea didn't go over well. i also had an idea to do this very walk through of downtown arcadia. their small shops make it feel like a small-town. i wanted to do this editorial, suburban shoot.  i didn't get to do that either. 

but i tend to think blessings come in disguises. all the pictures of that shoot came out perfect.

we used a couple locations around the park. luckily this park wasn't too crowded. the park was green, equipped with cool park benches, and trees w/ interesting tree trunks. the kids warmed up to me quickly, and i didn't prompt them to pose or smile for the camera. they were doing their thing, and i was their personal photographer. 

roy and germeen are the picture perfect couple. who would think this hot couple are parents of 2 small boys. they were so easy to work with, and went with the flow. they were relaxed (at least on the outside, hahahaha), when most parents would be distracted and tense when their children are around. their pictures look romantic and beautiful. too many favorites. hard to pick for this blog. 

the best pictures, well, at least in my opinion, my faves are the family portraits when they're laughing and interacting with each other. being a family. my goal, as a photographer, is to capture genuine personalities of my subjects. and i think i accomplished it this afternoon. 

we enjoyed our sat. afternoon with roy, germeen, sam, and anthony. we look forward to shooting their wedding in nov. i know that day is going to be so full of love. 

if you want to check out more pix, check out their slideshow! www.gjspillerphotography.com/DuplessisShow

teresa & james: album pages

the album.

in the age of digital, and files, why do we still need albums?

1) computers and hard drives crash.
2) you won't remember where that "one" file is.
3) who wants to see your pictures on your small camera phone (oh, by the way, phone memory can crash too)
4) your album is the heirloom that you pass on to the next generation. it's the legacy you leave to your kids, grandkids (or even your older selves; face it...when i'm old and gray, i want to be able to view our younger versions! besides it's evidence to your grandkids that you were young and fabulous once).
5) who wants to pass down a bunch of disks or hard drives (that you have to back up and burn/copy again every couple years). yeah, that's sentimental.
6) the older folk like to view albums, not digital files (well, at least my grandma, anyway).

i recommend having a custom album made (or you can make your own) at least once a year. you should be collecting volumes of your family's history: all the special events, traditions, and holidays, should be documented. the yearly family portrait and the first year of your baby, are definite musts!

i offer that service to our clients. each client gets a custom designed album. i never use designing templates. all of my albums are one of a kind. i also showcase the subjects and the images, not the layouts. the attention should be on the people in the picture, not the fancy shmancy designs and textures. i keep it simple. classic. so that you can stand looking at it 10, 15, 20 years from now. our clients also can give their input, and edit their album to their liking.

here's a sample of an album i did this past weekend. tell me what you think?

www.gjspillerphotography.com/HarrisAlbum1

first christian church, downey & embassy suites, downey, wedding photographers: james + teresa

that phrase keeps ringing in my ear! that was from one of the toasts that were said that night at teresa and james' wedding. i couldn't help but to think of my own wedding, when the toaster read 1st corinthians, "love is patient, love is kind.." one of the readings from our wedding. i always get choked up when i hear it because the words speak to me so deeply, it humbles me and puts me in my place. and i think about my relationship w/ j., and how i've learned what love is through my experience with him. love is not in the perfection of being, not in how perfect we should be or being the "perfect couple," but in the product of who we both become when we are together. even though i feel that what that reading asks of us is a tall order, it is something attainable, and something to strive for.

teresa and james got married on a beautiful sat. afternoon, with lots of love in the room. people that have been in their lives from grade school and crossing over states to be with them, and testify to their love. the officiants were james's father, and one of his boyhood friends. i love when the officiants know the couple personally. they always seem to add a little extra special to the wedding. another nice touch was james's sister and friends who played live music during the ceremony. i get chills from hearing the soulful singing, the suggestion of a saxophone, and the comfort of a good piano accompaniment. i know, i'm a sucker for sentiment.

another thing i will remember about teresa and james's wedding was how quickly that dance floor filled up. i couldn't help but to keep snapping away, as guests, from young and old, got down and tore that floor up! okay, one more thing i will remember were the dances. the first dance to maxwell (one of my all time faves), the father-daughter dance (very touching), and the mother-son groove, i mean dance.

check out just some of my favorite pix from their wedding. if you want to see more, check out their slideshow here! (or copy and paste: www.gjspillerphotography/HarrisShow)

thanks, teresa and james, for making our job enjoyable and with lots of fun and laughter! best wishes to you!

Church: First Christian Church in Downey
*Great coordinators! Professional and helpful to making the ceremony run smoothly and beautifully!
Reception: Embassy Suites, Downey, California

*Nice courtyard/atrium in the center of the hotel. Cool fountain! Took great formals and portraits in front of it ! Check out the slideshow!

Wedding Day Sample Video

check out our wedding sample video. our fave wedding pix! 

more fave pix (tim & olivia)