Samir and Paula…

My Blog isn’t a wedding photography blog but weddings are part of the overall general set of photography that I shoot.  I only take so many per year to make way for other projects that are significantly different.  I do this because I feel like it makes me a better overall photographer, as well as it gives me some variety during the course of the year.  Plus shooting weddings allows me to apply some of the commercial portrait and product skills that I fashion while shooting those other projects, giving the bride and groom some incredibly clear and sharp magazine quality images to remember their day.  Really I consider this to be a win/win for me, and for my clients because it allows me to do something for them that they will not only remember forever, but will allow me to better refine my thinking and shooting on the fly.

(Nikon D3s,200ISO, Nikon 24mm F1.4, 1/2500th@F1.4.  Single Nikon SB900 Speedlight shot through a 32″ Umbrella held on a light stand above Samir and Paula by Brad.  SPeedlight fired by Pocket Wizard Flex TT5 triggered by an on camera Pocket Wizard Mini TT1 with a Nikon SU-800 Unit Attached)

While on the blog I’m showing a few portraits and select few other unretouched photos from Samir and Paula’s special day, it was definitely a day of many photos.  Actually, the last three weeks has been the time of Many photos really.  In fact I’ve got about 200 gigabytes of new photos in my backup system from the course of that time but that’s another story for another day.  Samir and Paula had a beautiful day and I’m pretty sure that they will be pleased having had me Photographetize Photograph it for them.

(Nikon D3s, 1600ISO, Nikon 85mmF1.4. 1/30th@F1.4.  Nikon SB-900 Speedlight attached to an Off camera cable held in my left hand cross body to the right side of the camera  bounced into the ceiling set to iTTL -.7EV).

Samir and Paula have an outstanding sense of humor and that’s why I consider them to be some of my favorite people.  More than one photo was taken with Samir holding a roll of Mentos in from the side of the frame while Paula either rolled her eyes or provided a grin so large it could have only been fit for a cartoon.  Samir’s gift to his groomsmen was actually a Replica Light Saber, which as you can imagine created a target rich environment; especially in low light.

(Nikon D3s,1600ISO, Nikon 85mmF1.4D, 1/60th@F1.4.)

It’s not normal for me to make a post about a wedding, and I know that.  As I mentioned, I only shoot so many per year, but this was my first for 2011 for some of my favorite people and it went swimmingly, despite several technical shortcomings.  Paula and Samir tied the knot, I got to play with a D7000 the entire day since my D700 was out for repair, along with my 70-200VR2.  (Currently using an 80-200 Push Pull.  Holy Moley.  Great lens, but miss my VR2 in low light.)  Playing with the D7000 was great because it let me confirm that it would be something that I thought My girlfriend Shannon would like, and we got one for her yesterday.

(Nikon D7000, 800ISO, Nikon 18-35F3.5-4.5@18mm.  1/6th@F4.5.  Nikon SB900 Speedlight set to iTTL on a Nikon SC-28 Sync Cable held in my left hand cross armed under the camera to camera right zoomed to 70mm.)

Great day for Paula and Samir, great day for photos and great day for everyone at the wedding.  As seen above Samir’s Aunt cut a rug on the dance floor along with quite a few of the kids.  Beautiful day for a beautiful couple.  I’ll be sure to make another post when I finish editing the batch of pictures.  More Soon.