Where are the people?

Why aren't there people in that photo? Well sometimes, I just want to grab my camera and drive into nowhere and see what I find! Now that may not sound surprising to you, but in the portrait industry, that's CRAZY!

Regular people take pictures of everything, their food, their house, their pets, EVERYTHING. If you are a portrait photographer-for some reason we are taught unless there is a person in the photo, it just isn't worth anything. I was actually told that by a fellow photographer years ago, and I am just as offended by that statement now as I was then. The world is beautiful-and who writes these "rules" anyway? So I thought I would take a photo day and enjoy what the world has to offer. I haven't had time or opportunity lately to do that while building my new business-so I was excited to say the least! I love photographing people, but my next passion in photography is nature.

There is art in everything, I really truly believe that. If you are a photographer and you feel you have gotten caught in a "rut", you should just pick up your camera, and GO! I headed out on the freeway and pulled over where ever I wanted. I crossed "Private Property/No Trespassing" signs without flinching, I laid on the side of the freeway, I leaned over the edge, and then I got lost. I don't mean that figuratively, I seriously got very, very lost. I was driving on some dirt road on the edge of nowhere at least an hour (maybe more) a little freaked out, so don't do THAT, bring GPS of some sort! Other than getting lost, I had a wonderful day with my camera, it was worth it. It would be worth it for you also.

Remember-You make your own rules. Photograph what you want, how you want. As long you know how to control your camera and your light, you can do anything. Get up early and drive far away to photograph the dawn. Drive into the woods on a rainy day. Bundle up with your camera and tripod and photograph the night. Be creative and have fun! A beautiful photo won't always have people in it, get over it!

"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today"-James Dean

Cameo Rose
Cameo Rose Photography
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Off the Beaten Path

How do you find that special spot to photograph your client? Do you go to all the local "hangouts" the other photographers go to? Boring. You have to find locations of your own that are private and special, somewhat off the beaten path. As a photographer you shouldn't be afraid to photograph in the rain, or in the river, on the beach, or at night. You need to stretch your wings and just go for it!

First get in your car and drive! If your client is calling you and wants to be photographed somewhere special-better make sure it is special. Get in your car early in the morning so you are looking at a location during the time you may be photographing. Adversely, get in your car in the evening if it is going to be an evening shoot. You never want to find the perfect "location", and make the mistake of booking the appointment when the sun is in your clients eyes in the evening, when the spot was perfect in the morning. I have locations I use specifically in the morning, and others I will go to in the evening.
Be prepared. Sometimes you need artificial light to fill in "raccoon eyes" and sometimes you may only need a reflector. Other times you need to set up a "movie set", while for another all you needed to bring was a chair. You should always think about your location choice vs. time vs. group. For example, if you want to photograph a sexy woman on a carousel horse, you may want to arrange to go after hours to make sure you have privacy! Another example-if you are photographing a large family group with Grandma and Grandpa-you better bring chairs for them, because they can't be expected to stand very long. Also, if you have a group that wants to be photographed outside, make sure the weather is good, don't (A.) Make your group sweat during the hottest time of the day on the hottest day of the year or (B.) Freeze outside in Winter.

Sometimes you can't do anything about a particular situation-it is going to be cold tomorrow, what should you do? You can either reschedule the appointment, find a location that will work indoors, or at least warn your client to dress appropriately. It is your job as a professional to make sure your clients are prepared for a situation, that is why they called you and didn't try to do it themselves.
The bottom line is, sometimes you have to jump the fence to get a great picture. As a passionate artist, that shouldn't bother you. You can't be afraid to "go off the path" if you plan to be a successful photographer. Do something memorable and you will have a customer for life!

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."-Andre Gide

Cameo Rose
Cameo Rose Photography

Making a Dream Real

Well today I went to photograph a lovely family group in Walnut Creek. It was something Oma had been wanting for quite some time and I was honored to be the photographer of their choice. I left Stockton all packed up and ready for anything at 3pm, arrived at my location at 4:40 for a shoot at 5pm!

I start to unpack, I find Oma-but where is this lovely spot we have discussed and they sent me photographs of ? I haul equipment down a ramp, down some stairs, find a narrow walkway and set everything down. Wait, you mean this hill with little signs everywhere surrounded by rails is the destination? Oh oh. What to do? Well, Opa and I start to see if there are other desirable locations that Oma may like. Nope, this is the spot.

Now, if the lighting in this spot was bad, I would have said no, this spot won't work. The light here was perfect. Oma had her heart set on this location because she renewed her vows here with Opa 7 years ago.  Not in "this" spot, she wanted the memory of the beautiful wedding without it looking the same. This location had little waterfalls, but to my camera and from my vantage point, they were difficult to see.

Can't see any can you?

What to do? I don't want to break Oma's heart, and she hasn't liked any of the pretty choices Opa and I searched out, because this spot is the spot she has wanted for months. It's in her head, she already has the vision of the beautiful portrait with all of her loved ones. I can't say no to her. Allright, let's do this.



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When you have a client like this, it is important to do what you can- if you can, to make the vision happen. I have some graphic art talent, so this is what I did. Photoshop and patience, viola. Removed some random hands, fixed shoes, fixed background "fixtures" and added Oma's waterfalls (yes, there really were little waterfalls and I took pictures of them to use them later).

Why do you call me instead of your "friend" with a camera? I can make the dream a reality, and your friend, probably couldn't have handled this. You need to know people skills, posing, photography, lighting, and graphic art to make something like this happen. The full package-and that is what I am all about!

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. -Colin Powell

Cameo Rose
Cameo Rose Photography

The Early Bird Gets the Best Image?

Well, I have never seen an early bird with a camera, I guess I am not getting up that early, but I have had my share of early excursions! One was out of town, so my client had to get up even earlier than I to get ready.

 Be aware, if you want an early "sun coming up" session, you will have to be up before the sun to get ready for the big event! I am actually so excited about early sessions, till I have to get up...which wouldn't be so bad, if I had actually slept! Generally I am so excited about your session, I have pictures in my head, visions of these dreamy perfect moments I plan to capture.I go over equipment in my head, going through my mental checklist, did I charge everything? Well it is worth it, and since the light is changing with the season, good news everyone won't have to get up quite so early. By the way, for those of you that sleep in the morning and have no idea when "sun up" is-it was as early as 6:30, yikes!

I don't just get up early for the sun, I also work early for the "early risers". You know, babies who can't tell time and wake up before everyone and are excruciatingly happy at 7:30 in the morning! Oh yeah, I will  show up to photograph a baby anytime, anywhere!

Well the point is, does the Early Bird get the best image? I think so, if the pictures are important to you, getting up early for portraits is totally worth the effort. Images, just don't lie! If you want a gorgeous image early in the morning, in the right location-don't hesitate to ask for it! Get happy, dawn isn't quite as early now, sessions can begin at 8am or 9am now! I can sleep in!

"I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird, and not enough of the bad luck of the early worm!" -Franklin D. Roosevelt

Cameo Rose
Cameo Rose Photography

New Beginnings

Everyone loves a new beginning, for that time you said or did the wrong thing-oops! Well, I am all about new beginnings. I am getting married for the 2nd time next year (this is Mr. Right) and I am very excited about that! Getting married also means moving from my home into a new home with my kids, kind of excited about that. Kids have started a new school year, we are putting last years hair pulling experience behind us. What about new jobs? Well, most people love a new job also. This is my new job, working for me, my family, and you!

Now about those "Cameo Appearances"...who doesn't want to be a star for a moment? Fame isn't all it's cracked up to be, but just a beautiful perfect moment in the sun (or wherever you choose) that is priceless. That moment is what I am all about. The instant where you glow, you have the perfect expression, the light is just right, in the perfect scene-the world stops-and click, a "Cameo Appearance"! It's amazing! That is the beauty of photography! Finding the right moment with the right shutter speed, ISO and aperture!

I have had perfect moments with all my sessions, such as a beautiful young lady in a wheat field at dawn, sweet siblings playing ring around the rosies, and families enjoying moments together in harmony! These are my inspiration. True moments. Photography appears to have a lot of fantasy in it, which is entertaining to each of us as a spectator, but for the person in that photograph, there is truth revealed about their spirit and their heart. The young lady in the field, showed her carefree natural side. The siblings playing games together, showed they really love one another, even if they fight all the time. Families in harmony, yes, it can happen, and it's great to have those moments on film!!!

As for new beginnings, I think John Steinbeck said it well:

“There are as many worlds as there are kinds of days, and as an opal changes its colors and its fire to match the nature of a day, so do I.”   ―John Steinbeck

Take care.

-Cameo Rose
Cameo Rose Photography