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<p>Unobtrusive, documentary wedding photography. 541.753.9903.</p>
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<p>1. What genre of wedding photography would you say classifies your work?
I would define my <a href="http://www.juancarlosphoto.com/eugene-wedding-photographer/">digital wedding photography blog</a> style as journalistic with an artistic/fashion influence. I try to capture the reality and emotion of the wedding day but at the same time I am aware of the fantasy and romantic view that couples have of their wedding day. Couples love beautiful images of themselves. They want to see their wedding day portrayed in a beautiful, romantic and artistic way.
2. What are you trying to portray in photos, what are you trying to capture as a <a href="http://www.juancarlosphoto.com">wedding photographer in portland oregon</a>?
As mentioned above, my goal is to capture the romance, beauty, emotions, and details of the wedding day. My background as a journalist allows me to document the day in a comprehensive way. However, I go beyond photojournalism to incorporate an artistic/fashion approach to make people’s dreams real.
3. How do you get to know your couple? Do you have personal meetings before the wedding, if yes, how far in advance?
Normally we get booked a year in advance as a <a href="http://www.juancarlosphoto.com">portland oregon wedding photographer</a> . If time allows and the couple is available we have a consultation where we discuss their goals and style to see if there is a match. We also try to promote having an engagement session to get more acquainted with the couple and to see how they photograph. Often, couples plan their wedding from out of state and we can't meet until the day of the wedding. In that case we communicate by phone and e-mail.
Most couples that meet with us book us on the spot. By the time they meet with us they have had a chance to see our website galleries which show complete weddings and have seen our price list.
4. What is your MO when it comes to taking pictures? What is your niche?
Our approach to weddings is to be observant recorders of the wedding day.
Aside from the formals and the portrait session with the couple where there is minimal direction we are there to record what truly happens. Being unobtrusive and at the same time having a fast eye to capture the moment is our goal.
Our niche is clients who love truly beautiful photography.
5. What is your passion, both in work and in life?
I think I am a perfectionist. I come from a very artistic family that includes painters, musicians and writers. Doing wedding photography allows me to express the artistic and creative side of me. I go to weddings to get the best pictures that I can get. I am committed to being the best wedding photographer out there. I owe it to myself and to my family. I think my clients deserve the best photographs that they can have.
6. Why do you think your clients come to you? What can you offer them that no other photographer can? What is your special/unique difference?
I think passion for photography, being professional <a href="http://www.juancarlosphoto.com">oregon wedding photographer</a> and successful, personality, confidence and attention to detail are all part of the equation. We sell the concept that the client is hiring a husband and wife team, both of which are qualified wedding photographers. We act and dress professionally. We don’t use high-pressure sales tactics. We are a fun-loving husband and wife team. When they come to our studio and see the printed photos, the high-end albums, enlargements, and our friendly approach, they are convinced that they can’t find better quality anywhere else.
7. Tell us about the album process. Do you hand them a proof book, show them a slide show—How do you show them the images?
How do they tell you their selections, etc.? For the album process we use a combination of printed proofs, web gallery and a CD gallery. The client has the option of mailing the proofs that they want on the album or they can make a selection on the web or from the CD gallery and send it though the regular mail or e-mail. Once the selection is made I create an album design and offer them a preview on the web or if they have the time they come to the studio. They have the option of changing two of the layouts at no charge. I always create additional page layouts that the client has the option to buy.
8. Have you photographed destination/on-location weddings? If yes, how does the workflow happen? How do you work with long-distance communication?
Destination weddings are our next goal.
9. What is the most important marketing tool for you? Is your website a major tool for you, your clients?
I believe that our most important marketing tool is our website. We are very well-positioned on the search engines and as a result 90 percent of our clients come via our website. Our website allows us to display our work, answer frequently asked questions, describe our philosophy, and is the main point of contact with our clients.
10. MOST IMPORTANT: How does the camera, film, lighting, etc. that you use help you to reach that goal and capture the moment?
I learned very early in my <a href="http://www.juancarlosphoto.com">eugene oregon wedding photographer</a> career that to capture the moment and the wow photo you must take lots of photos. Both my wife and I carry two cameras all the time, always ready to anticipate and capture the action.
I am a firm believer in using available light to capture the true mood of the wedding. Capturing available light requires fast lenses and cameras that focus well in low light. We use flash sparingly. I hate the flashy look or any light that will disrupt the true mood of the celebration.
12. Why do you use the equipment that you use?
From the beginning of our photography career we have always used the best-quality equipment. As a <a href="http://www.juancarlosphoto.com">salem oregon wedding photographer</a> we have selected Canon as our main equipment provider because of the quality of the optics, focusing speed and reliability. Our clients want sharp, high-quality photographs. When I am taking a photo I don’t want to be distracted by the thought that my lens is not sharp or that my camera is not going to focus. I want to concentrate on composition, creativity and capturing the essence of the wedding day.
13. Why did you take the plunge into digital?
I have formal training in digital image processing. I hold a master’s degree in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems. My experience with digital goes back to 1994 when I participated on several NASA-founded projects using high-resolution satellite imagery to carry out environmental impact assessment. For my master’s thesis I did an evaluation of the Mosquito Coast resources with satellite imagery. It was pure scientific work; however, the principles, techniques and theory have a great relevance in my digital artistic work. When the Canon D60 arrived in 2002, I knew that the time had come to jump to digital for weddings. After that I have never looked back at film.
14. What are the features of digital that you find most beneficial?
Digital has opened a door to more creativity and to a more complete <a href="http://www.juancarlosphoto.com">oregon wedding photographer</a> coverage. In our big weddings we average 3,500 frames; with film that would be cost prohibitive. The ability to produce color, B&W, sepia, etc from the same digital file is amazing. We have a well-established workflow that allows us to come back from the wedding, download the files, select the ones to process, batch process, upload them to our lab, and then create the web gallery.
In the past year there has been a quantum leap in the reduction of digital noise levels, improvements in white balance, resolution, color fidelity, frame rate, etc. In addition, digital is more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
15. How many weddings do you shoot per year?
Because of our commitment to high-quality as a <a href="http://www.juancarlosphoto.com">bend oregon wedding photographer</a> we limit our assignments to a maximum of 25 weddings a year. We want happy clients.
16. What drives you to succeed? What helps you to succeed?
My drive for success is to be remembered not as one more photographer but as somebody who gave his best. Wedding photography is a journey that requires constant innovation and the improvement of technical and artistic skills. The day we stop innovating, we start dying artistically.
To keep motivated I try to be involved with other artists and Internet forums such as the Digital Wedding Forum that congregates some of the greatest photographers of our time. In addition I attend photography seminars, lectures and read photography books and self-improvement books.
17. What have I not asked you that you would really like to tell us, to share with us? (Famous weddings, awards, accomplishments, etc.)
When I think of all the weddings that we have photographed I have great memories. The greatest compliment that we have received is from a lady in Lakeview, Oregon who drove six hours just to meet us and see our work. She was so excited about her wedding photography. Needless to say, it was one of the most memorable weddings ever.
Words cannot express how in awe I am of the two of you in every sense of professionalism and artistry. The GORGEOUS wedding day proofs arrived in Ohio a few days before our reception there and I cannot tell you how elated I was to get them and look through them OVER AND OVER AND OVER again!!!! The photographs are even more beautiful than I imagined. You absolutely captured the heart and soul of our wedding day. Your photos embodied the spirit of the day better than mere words ever could. You documented the things that mattered so much yet you didn't even have to ask or even let your presence be known. The fun part about looking at the photos is not even recalling that a moment was captured, it just was.
And as if I couldn't be more impressed by how beautiful they were and how wonderful you were to to work with that day- then you went above and beyond to make sure we had the pictures to share at our Ohio reception AND include 100's more than what you were contracted to include!!!!!!! I am floored by your exceptional service!!!
Thank you again so much for everything! I am so extremely proud of our photographs and have gotten so many amazing comments about them. They are truly a treasure!
Sincerely,
Jennifer and Tim Gallagher
18. Please share with us a little about the studio as a whole. (ie: how many photographers, who handles what, the strengths of having multiple shooters, etc.)
Currently my wife and I are the sole photographers. We don’t believe in subcontracting our wedding photography. When a client sees our galleries they can rest assured that what they see is a true representation of our wedding work. In a typical wedding Sandra will concentrate on the bride getting ready, I will photograph the groom, and during the rest of the wedding we will cover everything from different angles. When it comes to image processing and album design, I am in charge.
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