Mac & Ted Wedding

Last Saturday I photographed Mac & Ted's wedding at their church, and then the Marriott downtown. The crowd was one of the best wedding crowds I've ever seen. You guys party hard, and I had a blast. Congratulations to both of you. Here is one of my favorites from the evening...more to come later...

Platon at the Eddie Adams Workshop

I listened to an awesome and engaging presentation by celebrity photographer, Platon, speaking at the 2008 Eddie Adams Workshop. This audio track is posted originally on photographer Vincent Laforet's blog and is available there.

Click this link to the audio
Click this link to Platon's portrait portfolio

I'm sending this post out to my readers who are photographers. Many of us spend our time with portrait subjects that we get to know through the booking and meeting process, or referrals through friends and past clients or people we already know. One of the hardest things, I've found, is approaching and taking a portrait (that isn't contrived or overly awkward) of a complete stranger. I'm not talking about sneaking into a capture with a long lens either. Getting an individual to open up and give you a window into who they really are, and not a moment behind the cheese in front of the lens is tough. There is definitely a talent in cracking through the shell of most people. Platon is a master at this and it shows in his work.

The best way to listen to this presentation IMO is to open Platon's portrait portfolio while playing the recording. He is going through a slideshow of his images from the portrait section of his portfolio and talking about his experiences. This has to be one of the most engaging, entertaining, heartfelt, and educational photographer presentations I've heard to date. Take the time to listen and peruse his portrait portfolio to key in on most of the portraits to which he's referring.

I photographed this man in October at a wine festival in Winchester, VA. He had a fascinating look and accent, and his personality radiated to everyone at the table. I looked right at him with camera in hand and asked, "Can I take your picture?" He looked, laughed and gave an honest look into the lens.

Website Renovation and Booking Specials

Hey everybody, head on over to www.natekinnison.com for some new pricing structures and packages. I have a booking special going right now until March 1st. Every bride who books "The Album Package" between now and March 1st, 2009 will receive a (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition 8GB iPod nano with a set of chosen images from your wedding day to share on the go.

Also, check out some of the new additions to my website: Prints (Fine Art Prints), Proofs (links to proofs online) and don't forget the revised Pricing tab. I look forward to hearing from you real soon.

I don't like to post without a photo, so here goes... I love this little guy

Nana - of the Nana and Grandaddy Variety

Here's a set of two of my favorite photos of Nana. I was going through files for Christmas prints and I ran across these in a folder. Her personality is right on the money in these images...

Industrial Waterfront

I really love these industrial scenes that pop up all over Hampton Roads. Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News are awesome places to catch scenes like these...

For ALL the Photographers Out There - Newbs to Pros

Hey guys, I've started a link list for photographers: newbs, amateur, and professional down and over on the right side of the blog. I've had lots of people ask photography questions that I'm more than happy to answer. There are colleagues of mine that I go to on a regular basis to learn and grow as an artist. An open dialog about technique and influences is important to all of us who want to learn more about photography.

Check out some of the links - let me know what you think, and send me other photography/design related links that you dig. Ask questions if you've run into issues with lighting, composition, camera/flash operation, photoshop - post processing, etc... in your own photography. Your questions could benefit more readers than you think. All of these photography technique posts will be labeled "photography," so click on this tab under my blog header above when you come back. As always, I look forward to hearing from you.