I had the pleasure of participating in the 2nd Chrys Q Workshop last month, which was held at the fabulous W Hotel in downtown Dallas.  The Chrys Q workshop is a chance for photographers to come along and help shoot the catalog for the latest collection of Chrys Q slipcovers. These are stylish slipcovers made for wedding and portrait albums so that clients can have something just as unique as their awesome album. I really believe that all wedding photographers should consider offering these in addition to their wedding albums, presentation is everything, and you want something that is unique and memorable that your clients will be proud to show to their friends and family, what better way than to have a handmade designer slipcover! Nobody is paying me to say these words, I just really believe in what my friend Chrys Q is doing and think that it is such a great addition to our presentation of the album. I know for me personally, my album company sends my stuff in a cardboard box, almost like a pizza box, not the most exciting thing to give to a client. Go check out these slipcovers yourself and get your clients excited!

As far as the workshop is concerned, it was different the second time around. The first workshop we basically got to watch Ben Q shoot the entire catalog and we got to ask any questions we wanted along the way, during this workshop Ben brought all the same gear but this time he left the entire catalog for us to shoot! I did not know this going into the workshop so when I was told I have two of the new slipcovers to shoot and I can do whatever I want, I got a little overwhelmed to say the least. So as my mind kicked into overdrive I was constantly looking around for places to shoot and since I wasn’t the first one to shoot I seemed that another photographer would shoot in a location I had in mind. But in the end I found two great places to shoot that I made work and I am happy with the way they turned out. This was my first experience using Profoto lights which is some of the best lighting equipment you can use, I am only used to using tiny speedlights or at best maybe some Alienbees. So it was great to get to use this really nice gear and learn how to use it thanks to Mr.Ben Q.

Here are a few of my favorite images. The first image in this post is actually in the header of the Chrys Q website, so go check it out after you are done here!

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I forgot I had started this post and never finished it, so I thought today would be a good day to post this little before and after image from Jade’s Bridal Session. The final image used the Cloudy Day action from the Jesh De Rox Colorshift Action Set. Indesign seems to distort the final image slightly so I added the final image below as well. Any questions? Just ask. I’ll do my best to answer.

I am editing the engagement session of Preston and Melissa and wanted to stop for a minute and just share a before and after image with everyone. My sessions are usually scheduled close to sunset and one of my favorite things to do during my sessions is to get some shots with some backlight and getting some sun flare in the image. I have seen new photographers ask how to achieve these type of shots and the best way is just to practice, practice, practice. You will notice in my straight out of camera shot that the image is slightly underexposed, I have found this to be the best way to capture these type of images and then to bring back the details in the face with lightroom and photoshop. I don’t recommend underexposing by a lot just by half a stop or so and that should be enough. My final signature image ton was finished off with “Memory of a friend” from the Jesh de Rox colorshift actions.

This past Sunday I participated in the Lakeside Bridal Fair hosted at the Hilton Hotel in Rockwall by having my own booth. This was my first time to have a booth at a bridal fair, I was so excited to take part in something that made me feel like a “real” business. It is easy to start your own business and to tell people about your business, but since I shoot on location and don’t have my own studio this was the first time I had to create something that represented my business. Okay let me be completely honest and rephrase that last part, I had to rely on the assistance of others to help me create a space that represented my business. It is so important for photographers to create a brand for themselves and continue that brand in every aspect of their business or else clients and people looking at your business will never remember who you are. Photographs and styles are constantly changing so you need something that can be consistent and stick in the minds of people. I felt this booth was a huge success with the small budget I had for the booth and I couldn’t have done it without my wonderful wife Jessica (providing awesome table decorations), my aunt Lena (using her awesome sewing skills for my table runners), my friend Jayme (providing my awesome sign), Freddy (for creating simple and great floral arrangements), and last but not least my wonderful and amazingly awesome friend and wedding planner Stephanie Torres of Stephanie Michele Events. Stephanie really helped pull everything together and really help me create something that represented who I was and what my business represented. Everything was kept simple and clean while focusing around my business colors of white, yellow, and grey. Any photographers or people in the wedding industry who want to hear my full experience and advice for considering bridal fairs please click the link below the pictures. Thanks everyone who helped me out and sent their love and support.

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I thought it would be fun to share one frame that is behind the scenes from the engagement session with James and Jennifer. I thought this was a funny shot because I was testing the light and I just so happen to catch both of them with their eyes closed unintentionally. Special thanks to my new friend Jaret Benson for coming along with me and assisting on the shoot.