Upstate NY Photographer: Workin' On It

This week has been a whirlwind. I spent more time in New York City and New Jersey than home and it was an interesting inversion of events.  I admit, I'm a homebody. I am much more comfortable to curl up on my couch with friends and family than take a night out on the town. So, to break loose of the structured and planned definitely catered to a slightly more spontaneous "me."

Professionally: This week I have been stretched and pulled in every facet of professionalism.  Downstate photography demands were an extension of my photojournalism background, while editing my last wedding of the year during my downtime. Throw in a few family shoots with small children and I have run the gamut.   It has also challenged time management skills (still working on that one), organization and the temptation to eat more nachos than normal to comfort my small stress levels.

Sandy...the aftermath.

this pic of me makes me laugh..it looks like my feet are on backwards!

Personally: How to balance it all? I am still not sure. A lot goes on in this head and heart of mine. Sometimes it's easily communicated, sometimes it's not. However, the love of what I do is multiplied when the images come to life and a story has been told. I like stories. If I had nothing better to do, but write stories, I would invest endless amounts of time weaving words together in happy endings.  However, I enjoy the challenge of making images tell a story without using words.  That's why darn twitter is so impossible.. 140 characters or less? please!! Can't a girl get a paragraph or something??
Challenges make us stronger, belief makes us fly and love makes us crazy.
I admit, I can get overwhelmed, emotionally and professionally, but most of the time it's an overwhelming of all good things.  How can I not love that? It's like falling in love with crazy.


Inspiration point? Christina Perri (love this video) and every person who made me laugh this week- you know how you are.

Upstate NY photographer: Downstate after Sandy

The one amazing thing about this job is that you NEVER know what is going to come up next.  The scariest about this job is that you never know what is going to come up next.
You never know if/when you will book a wedding or a shoot, you also just never know when a phone call from Virginia will come through asking you to tag along with their company to photograph relief efforts after Sandy.

Professionally: This was something I knew how to do. 10 years of photojournalism and a lot of habits kick back into gear. There was a lot to take in and see! Wednesday night we shot in a near blizzard conditions near Fort Dix NJ. I drove south and hit the first storm of the year. Go figure. It was freezing and I was literally shooting out from underneath an umbrella and towels to try and keep stuff dry.  It was nothing compared to the people providing the relief efforts that had been outside for approximately 10 hours.  The next day we shot in bright sun and the pitch darkness in northern New Jersey. So, if ever there were three extremes in two day, we found them.

Thanks Shelly Wood for the photo!

Personally: Irene, Sandy, Katrina..are all infamous names now.  It's heartbreaking to walk through wreckage, to lose loved ones, to lose  a sense of safety. I get it. Irene was my home town's devastation. There is an underlying resentment of who didn't help who during which storm. I get it.  In a way, many cities and states didn't get what was going on here after Irene. However, now that Sandy did her damage, it's almost as if some people are resentful of the help they need.  I didn't lose my home or any family, but I walked through the mud, cleaned out homes, cried with my friends and spent days of exhausting efforts trying to find our town again..so I feel I have a little justification in this.   If/when tragedy strikes, you have choices.  You can choose to ignore it, you can choose to be resentful or you can be the one who "gets it" and come along side the next victims and help.
I don't say this lightly (and forgive the long winded answer) After my brother's traumatic brain injury - there were many people who didn't "get it". Many people did. Some people chose to not really get involved, some people did.  I could choose to resent all those who didn't let it affect them and refuse to help those in future need..or come along side the next family suffering the event of a brain injury. Why? Because I know the hurt, I know the sad, I know the anger and fear. I can empathize.  I chose the latter. I love the people I have come to know because of such a tragedy. The same thing happens in a situation such as this. Resent the help we maybe didn't receive  when we wanted it or offer it with open arms now because...we get it.

bringing fuel to hospital personnel.

Upstate NY Photographer: One Year Ago....

November 1, 2012 - marked the "one year ago" date.  The day I actually walked out the door of my full time job as a writer and photojournalist for a weekly paper in Stamford.  So many maybe's ahead of me it was mind numbing.

Personally: Irene had just devastated so much of what I knew to be home, my slight quandary seemed a little less dramatic.  My maybe's turned into knowing. I KNEW photography was what I wanted to do. There have been some ups and downs along the way, if I told you any different ..that would be a lie.  My confidence ebbs and flows with the tide of my personality. Just like you, sometimes I feel like I've nailed it, sometimes I scratch my head wondering what I did wrong.  It's what make me.. me.

Professionally: I am learning to love light. Sound weird?  It's a love/hate relationship.  As a photographer you have to learn light. Sounds professionally anemic to say that, but I know many people who shy away from truly learning what light is about. I have A LOT still to learn, but the very concepts that used to make me queasy, I find more thrilling.  Speedlights, off camera lights, sunlight, soft box, low light..it's all starting to pull together as I find my niche.
Someone asked me what I would like to specialize in...and I had to think.  Honestly, it came down to one word. Emotion.  Trust me with your emotions and everything else falls into place.

 Inspiration point: Jasmine Star, Irene hits home,

It's not about the ending, it's about the story.
 

What's Up Next?

I admit. I have been horrible at blogging lately. It's time for consistency.  I aim to blog every other week, unless I find an abyss of endless energy to do it more frequently.

The Purpose:
 I want YOU to know ME. When it comes down to photographing, it's more than business.  It's about relationships. If we know, understand and appreciate each other, it all translate into beautiful art through photographs.

Professionally:
A few topics I am aiming to cover are the ideas of The First Look, The Day After Sessions, Album Purchases, prints vs. CD, photography investments, why I won't do bridal shows...etc.

Personally:
Personally, I would like to include more about what goes on behind the scenes in my home life as well as professionally. Both sides make me complete and knowing them allows you to get to know me.

Storytelling:
I am working on two wonderful projects. After meeting Masha, I have decided to meet and photograph families who have children with special needs. This is nothing more than to celebrate the child and the family that loves them unconditionally. I will be introducing two more families in the coming months.
Military - I love photographing military families. I cry at the sight of a uniform, I pray for our men and women as well as their families that serve our country, I can barely get through any war movie or newspaper story regarding what is happening.  I am not serving in a uniform, but if I can serve with a camera. I will. I have offered to photograph homecomings and goings of soldiers and their families. I am a story teller and these are the stories that speak to me.
So, onward we go. If you choose to follow me in this journey. I would love it :)

Here's to a God blessed journey so far..

my men :)

Communicate Your Wedding Photography Timeline

 Wedding season is in full swing and I'm loving every minute.  It has been very busy resulting in some anemic blogging!However, I will try to keep pace with the blog world with posting ideas and concepts as we roll along through this hot and humid NY summer.

Photography by Amber J Photography

THE TIMELINE:  The timeline of your wedding is a plan you set in motion for certain events to happen at a certain time. 
You must communicate well with family and friends about your photography desires. It is never fun for us as photographers to try and track people down or to have guests impatiently waiting in the reception hall as we try to finish the task of photographing important images the bride and groom would like to capture following the ceremony. It is even worse when you don't get the photographs you desire because family and friends didn't know.
Just a few tips to keep things rolling...

REALIZE:
A timeline is a great idea, but real time sometimes happens differently. Consider that sometimes a  groomsman goes missing, someone inevitably has to use the bathroom,  travel time from the ceremony to where pictures are going to be taken takes longer than expected.   This all eats time and the minutes tick away rather quickly. Allow an extra half hour to what you feel is necessary.  I have yet to have too much time to photograph :)

COMMUNICATE:
If you want to have every cousin, aunt and uncle together in a photo because it's the first time in 10 years you have all seen each other - GREAT! Let's do it. However, make sure every cousin, aunt and uncle KNOW they are going to be asked to do this photo.  Send out a blast email, make a few phone calls, somehow let everyone in on the idea.  It takes forever to try and rally up large groups if they do not know what is expected of them.  If they know prior to the wedding they will be photographed around 4p.m. - then we save time and frustration gathering the troops.

THE LIST
It's always great to have a list of photography ideas. This should be talked through with your photographer WELL before the wedding.  Many times a bride has fantastic ideas on that list, but fails to communicate them to her bridal party and family.  Communicating a list of ideas and effective times for your family and bridal to be available for photographs eliminates a ton of frustration and allows for even better photographs. The bride who clearly communicates her desires gets exactly what she wants.

As you plan your day, talk with your photographer. Ask questions.  An experienced photographer has worked many weddings and will have a solid idea of where you need to allow time and what you need to do.

Happy planning!!

Your Bridal Make Up Questions Answered! - Thanks Jo Boring!

Make up artists and fabulous person Jo Boring recently helped me answer some questions I had received from a bride in regard to her wedding day make up.  I loved her response and used it to fill the post to the brim with awesome!
If you have any other questions feel free to post them and I will make sure we find those answers!!


Should wedding makeup be thicker and darker than everyday?

This is a fine line. You want to feel like yourself but it is true that wearing a bit more in the right places helps give you the coveted "flawless" look and helps define your features in pictures. Most people use a full-coverage foundation on their wedding day and a setting powder. That might be a lot more than you are used to but applied the right way it does not have to feel cakey or heavy....but it is heavy duty coverage that will help eliminate redness, blemishes etc. and make your skin look perfect:) In terms of darker, this doesn't mean wear darker colors. It means use makeup to help define features you want to pop in pictures and in person. Eyeliner, mascara (even fake lashes) can help define your eyes. You can use eye shadow to contour and shadow strategically to make your eyes look big. Lipliner can help give  lipstick or lipgloss a defined look and a base to stick to. These are just a few examples of things that every woman might not wear every day - but are often used in bridal makeup even to achieve a "natural" look. It's good to amp it up a bit as long as you still feel like you:)

Can a bride wear foundation with SPF:

In general I am careful about using SPF foundations for special events with photography because of the whitening effect they can have. However I have found exceptions to the rule as well. Try out your foundation beforehand and take some pics. A drugstore brand that is full coverage and fine in photos in my opinion is Revlon Colorstay. Of course, there are a million foundations ranging in price - you have to find one you like.

What if I sweat?

Be sure to use a powder to set your foundation. After you are all done you can also use a setting spray such as "Model in a Bottle" to lock it all in place. I use this setting spray on ALL my brides not to mention at dance performances....my makeup never moves!

Anyone can feel free to contact me via my facebook page "Saving Face" with any makeup questions! Happy wedding!

Beware... Photographer Friends :)

God has blessed. It was a big jump to decide to go into this whole photography thing and give up what was safe and known. Let's face it, change can be so hard especially for the creature of comfort and security :)

A couple of things: I know photography is super popular right now.  I see and will continue to see "businesses" pop up all over on Facebook.
If you really want the business...Beware:
1. You will spend more time marketing, preparing, contracting, buying, promoting and selling than photographing. Love photographing? You better. It's a small piece of the pie.
2. Self regulating. Balancing your own business, family, friends and other obligation= mind blowing organization. (I'm still working on this). Make sure your family truly understands - in the throws of the peak photography season- your weekends are obsolete.
3. Learning to say No. Good luck. I haven't mastered this yet, but I am getting better. Saying no to jobs, saying yes to others. It's a tricky balance.
4. Support other photographers. The pie is big. Don't under cut, don't be too cheap, don't criticize. Every photographer is an artist. Embrace them..they will make you better at what you do.
5. Can you handle demanding clients?  :) They are out there. We might not want them, but honestly they hone your business savvy.
6. Make it legit. If you are selling your expertise...make sure you have DBA's, contracts, insurance and you are claiming your taxes. It will take one client to question you or demand to see your "paperwork"...if you don't have it, it will be damage control on your end.

I could go on, but I just thought I would answer some of the questions I have gotten lately. I have actually suggested..IF you just want to wield a mean camera...great second shooters are hard to come by, offer to second shoot.  

This year, God has blessed OR at least given me what I asked for (haha)..I might change my mind after this summer! Just kidding. It's been a challenge, at times frustrating, at times amazing and brilliant. I'll take the ups and the downs and thankfully my husband has supported me the entire way. Without him, none of this would happen. So, that would be my 7th suggestion..make sure your spouse ( if you have one) and children clearly understand. It takes a lot, they have to give you up sometimes.  My husband knows nothing about photography, but he is my biggest fan :)