Erika and John engaged

Erika and John-78, originally uploaded by joel9778.

I had a wonderful engagement session in down town Grand Rapids. Probably some of my favorite work to date. Erika and John did a fantastic job and were easy to pose...they look pretty good too! This photo is an example of using the environment to your advantage. The script on the walls was already there. Lighting consists of 3 speed-lights, One main in a beauty dish above and two more on the sides as rim lighting. It makes them 'pop' just enough and some spill light hits the words on the wall...all to great effect I'd say. See their slideshow here.  Enjoy.

Helmets aren't just for babies

Helmets aren't just for babies, originally uploaded by joel9778.

Sometimes we need to stretch ourselves. Baby shoots are new to me and I never quite understand the "cute and cuddly' aspect. So a racing helmet was in order! He still looks cute and cuddly....oh well, we try.

Strobist info: SB900 camera left fired via Nikon CLS through an umbrella. minor tweaks in lightroom and CS2.

Evening light

Evening light, originally uploaded by joel9778.

Out for a sunset family shoot yesterday. No matter how many pictures you take, it's usually near the end of the shoot where things start to dial in really well. After all the kids are gone and mom and dad are left, peace reigns and great pictures are there for the taking....

Strobist: SB900 Camera left in a 51" umbrella, 1/4 power. Slight LR3 tweaks.

Family Portrait on the Lake

Family Portrait on the Lake, originally uploaded by joel9778.

It was a cool night on the lake this past weekend as we towed and rowed the swim platform into place. My assistant (and lovely wife) held the SB900 and umbrella on a stand just out of view on camera right. I had an SB800 on a stand, bare, camera left for a little rim lighting. The overall effect is to get the folks on the platform to 'pop' just a little.

It certainly is interesting how all the lighting notes and camera settings get lost along the wayside when the picture itself grabs your attention. I've had numerous comments and observations made by all kinds of people, who appreciate a little different thinking when it comes to the family picture.

The funny thing is I didn't pose them for this shot. They were all milling about as the platform floated closer to the dock. I saw them all standing in a bit of a set-up and waited for the platform to rotate around and present them in an evenly distributed pattern. There you are. Click.

Melia Senior Shoot

.Melia Senior Shoot, originally uploaded by joel9778.
I'm a bit new to the senior picture shoot - this being my second - but Melia was a joy to work with and warmed right up to the ideas and attitudes I suggested.  Here we went for a bit of old glamour to try a little something more than the typical piano shot.  I think we pulled it off. 
Shooting indoors with a DIY beauty dish-gelled- overhead w/ an SB800.  SB600 gelled from the rear for a hair/rim light.

Lori and Donald

Lori and Donald, originally uploaded by joel9778.

I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Lori and Donald this past weekend. They are a very unique, genuine, nice, and thoughtful couple - I had a blast. My sister-in-law, Ashley, spent the day with me as my assistant and second shooter. Her contribution can not be overvalued - I couldn't have done it without her. These few pictures of Lori are to show the lighting effect created by my home-made beauty dish. My D700 ISO is set to 1000, F-stop is 4, shutter is 1/60th - handheld with a 20-35mm 2.8 lens - in order to capture the ambient back ground. Ashley has the dish about 6.5 ft high and to camera left.

Jordan and Kristen

Jordan and Kristen, originally uploaded by joel9778.

I made Flickr "EXPLORE" for the second time in a month. This picture of Kristen and Jordan was selected for the honor of gracing the main page of Flickr.com - the largest photo hosting/commenting site for photographers in the world - quite an honor, but as you can see, quite a cool picture! This was on Oval Beach in Saugatuck, MI.

Sam at Sea Helping BP

Sam at sea soaking up oil somewhere in the Gulf.

In light of the recent happenings in the Gulf, I thought a little tribute to the absorbancy of the latest diapers was in order.  Our little Sam LOVES the pool and all thing aquatic, even when conditions are rough.  Here he is in our round pool riding a wave that Karen (my wife) created by keeping the water in sync as she pushed up and down on a boogie board.  I added a sunset to the back ground that I shot the other day in Jenison.  The end affect is quite exciting!  Shot with my D700 and SB800 with a shoot through umbrella held over the pool on a 7' pole.

Jade and Dan

Jade and Dan made a beautiful couple on the day of their Grand Haven wedding.  Just enough time and sun in the afternoon was had to take some special portraits in the park before a great reception.  The sunset was elusive on the beach, but must be tried again!

Lauren and Joel Wedding

I had the pleasure of shooting the wedding of Lauren and Joel this weekend.  Wow, what a great couple to spend the day with.  Very open to my creative inputs and naturals at posing....We made some fantastic images that day and I look forward to sharing them with you all.

Kristen and Jordan Wedding

I got to spend the weekend with Kristen (Wallace) and Jordan Jankowski as they were united in Holy Matrimony at St. Peters Parish in Douglas, Mi.  It was my first Catholic wedding ever and one of three I will be shooting this summer.  Kristen and Jordan were such a nice, humble couple that didn't want anyone to make too much of a deal of the fact that they were all there that day for them...sweet time, sweet people.  Thank you for letting me shoot your wedding pictures and best wishes for a long, happy marriage.

Sunfish lake at sunset

Sunfish lake at sunset, originally uploaded by joel9778.
Took the Lincoln up to the Honeycreek Inn and Cannonsburg area. The sun was creating the moments that make you slam on the brakes and run around in a way that makes your spouse think they married a real geek. Forunately, they know you better than that and other people see the talent buried in there somewhere....loads of fun and a beautiful evening captured for others to see.

Shooting the Mines 2010 Album and promo photos.

I had an opportunity to spend some time at the Holland museum in Holland Michigan, shooting the album and promotional photos for The Mines.  They are a local Grand Rapids band that is best described as Indie Rock, pulling inspiration from many sources including, David Bowie, U2 and Queen, to name a few.  Check them out at www.theminesonline.net.  Worth the price of admission.

'Angel'

I was out with the limo last summer looking for a shot.  As I pulled in to the gas station I saw a local guy hanging out by the attendant.  He looked the part of an old-school, tough, limo driver, who'd be out in a 1965 Lincoln Continental-Lehman-Petersen stretch, so I approached.  I told him I was an amateur photographer and needed some practice and would he be my model?  "Of course" he said,"I am a part time model anyway...", sure, I thought, we'll see.  Well after a couple of shots I had enough fuel, enough of 'Angel', and the shot I was after. I applied a "Dave Hill" look to it that I found a tutorial for on the web, I think it works to good effect, and got out of there the same time Angel turned into a 'special' toy salesman - promoting a new twist on a healthy relationship with the Mrs.  Sounds like a good time Mr. Angel, I'll take my shot and have a good night...

Horses at the fair, ready for the "Team Pull".

The Nickersons down by the river

Josh and Sarah; February 20, 2010