Beautiful Sandbridge Beach 2011
Summer is a wonderful time of year for us at R. Gregory Photography. We get the pleasure of capturing the joy and fun so many families and groups experience while they visit the gorgeous beaches we have here in Virginia Beach, and for that we are so grateful! As always, our visiting families made 2011 a fun and beautiful year at Sandbridge Beach, so thank you!
Sit back and enjoy a compilation of images from last year’s sessions:
Professional Portrait Prints or Pictures on a CD?
There are some photographers who offer their clients images on a disk; however, I believe it’s best to create beautiful fine art prints for my clients. Many of the photographers who offer images on a disk may not know much about how to artfully craft a final printed piece. Some of them are weekend hobbyists and don’t have time to spend on anything but snapping the pictures. They let the client worry about getting prints, and the final quality really suffers when photographs get printed at the local drug store or one hour shop. This type of offer should raise a red flag for anyone who values quality photographs and considers family portraits to be meaningful heirlooms that will last for generations.
There is a lot attention that goes into the creation of a finished portrait compared to the actual taking of the pictures. When I work on a portrait in Photoshop, I think of it in terms of classical painting. I have a huge toolbox of effects and software I rely on to enhance photographs in so many ways. I can control the tone and atmosphere of the setting which compliments the family relationships. I use techniques to uniquely frame and highlight the photograph, and most importantly I lightly re-touch the subjects in the image so they look their familiar best to loved ones.
One of my favorite techniques is to find the most attractive expression for each of the subjects in all of the images, and create the ideal photograph that captures everyone at their best. We call this a “head change” and it’s wonderful because it makes a group picture of everyone perfect! When I find an expression that really enhances the feeling of the overall portrait, it helps tell the story better.
Our portrait finishing is handled by a professional lab for high quality printing. For the past 25 years, I’ve had a close working relationship with my color lab and I have a high level of trust in the work they help me produce. In addition to a well printed image, there are options for dry mounting, UV lacquering that protects the piece and surface treatments that enhance the fine art quality of the image. There are choices for types of paper such as canvas, watercolor, luster, and even metallic. I also help advise on display choices and will mat and frame the work.
By the time the artwork is finished I’ve put my heart into it completely and given families an heirloom they’ll cherish forever. The care, attention to detail and passion I have for creating a beautiful final print is what my clients truly deserve!
The circled heads or people were changed in the finished print to make the final photograph perfect!
Here's the perfect portrait!
This is the original image taken in the studio
We changed out the expression on the child to one that was more relaxed during sleep. I also wanted to create a more timeless feeling with more subdued colors. The vibrant colors in the original were too harsh and didn't support the sleepy mood of the baby.
Original print taken in the studio
The masculine, gritty look of the firefighter is contrasted with the soft innocent look of his son in this handsome birth announcement.
This is an example of an image before I worked on it.
With enhancements, this portrait has been transformed into a nationally award winning image!
10 Tips for Capturing Great Vacation Pictures
You wouldn’t want to miss a fun candid photo moment on your family vacation, would you? Snapshots and group pictures are a favorite American pastime during summer vacations, so here are some tips to make sure you’re prepared:
1. Make sure you pack your camera battery and charger if they are specialized for your model. If your camera doesn’t require a dedicated battery, make sure you have a pack of triple A’s. Buy them before you leave home; sometimes in tourist areas, the price is higher.
2. Before you leave for vacation, download your memory card onto your home computer, and then clear the card so you have plenty of room for new photographs. This will safeguard your photographs just in case (heaven forbid!) something happens to your camera on your trip.
3. Pack a lens cloth for wiping clean any salt air, sand, or water that might cause your images to look blurry or dusty.
4. Remember to bring your camera strap; you just never know what will happen next!
5. Keep on the lookout for iconic scenes in the area. In Virginia Beach, for example, that could be the Neptune Sculpture at 30th Street, the Cape Henry Lighthouse, or maybe that two-story high gorilla at Ocean Breeze Waterpark. These types of backdrops tell a story about your family’s good time in a fun place.
6. If you’re going somewhere water-related, invest in a waterproof case for your camera. This will not only give you more opportunities for cool shots; it will also give you peace of mind that your camera is protected.
7. Pack your camera manual so you can learn how to work the self-timer on your camera (this could be one of your “beach reads”). That way, you can set the camera down and run into the family photo. Just because you’re the one taking pics doesn’t mean you get excluded from them!
8. Don’t shoot pictures with the light behind your family grouping, or they will be in silhouette. A better option is to let the light come from the side or the front.
9. If you go to a museum (like the Virginia Marine Science Museum) where the exhibits are behind glass, be sure to turn off your flash if you want pictures of what’s in the cases. The flash will cause an ugly glare. You may also want to put the lens directly up to the glass to avoid any other reflections.
10. If you’re gathering a group together for a photograph, make sure your camera settings are ready to go. Kids especially get impatient, so take the picture, move on, and everyone will stay happy and willing to be in more photos as your vacation continues.
Peaceful Maternity Photography for Expectant Parents
Shane and Natalie are expecting their first baby, a girl, at the end of July and wanted some artsy and unique images to remember and cherish this time in their lives. Here, they share their impressions of the shoot:
Ritchie: So, when we had our planning session, you let me know that you guys were interested in being outside instead of in the studio. What was it that inspired that choice?
Natalie: We feel like the whole experience of our pregnancy has been natural and has made us more in touch with Mother Nature, so we wanted to have that reflected in our portraits.
Shane: Plus, we’re both outdoors a lot running, walking, going to local parks, and the beach.
Ritchie: Did you enjoy the actual process of being photographed at the Botanical Gardens?
Natalie: Yes! The light was beautiful, the setting sun was relaxing, and I felt peaceful. I also liked that we all talked about ideas for what images to take. It was a creative and collaborative experience!
Ritchie: What do you like most about the final images?
Shane: I think it’s really important to have pictures of this time in our lives. It’s such a brief time in our lives. It shows our closeness and our love for each other and our unborn daughter that will be ingrained in our family.
Collaborating closely with a couple ensures the images and session is unique and personal, creating lasting memories of a special time.
