My heart always skips a little when I read on a forum about someone who lost images from a wedding. Usually, the problem isn’t with the CF card or the equipment, it’s with the photographer’s system for downloading cards to the computer. It’s not too hard to get confused and overlook a card when downloading CF cards after a wedding. Usually the photographer doesn’t realize this until weeks later though at which point the card has already been overwritten and the data is irrecoverable.

But, wait, there’s a solution! This video shows my process for making sure that everything you’ve shot safely makes it onto your computer. The last thing you ever want to do is tell a client that you lost their wedding photos so here’s a little help.

John

Bil Zelman may well be the best photographer you’ve never heard of. He’s one of the very few photographers who not only shoots weddings, but also does a lot of high-end advertising and editorial shoots. And everything he does, he does with raw honesty. By that I mean his images aren’t overly Photoshopped or treated with the canned action set of the moment. You won’t find any “Diffuse Glow” applied to his images.

In the quest to become a better photographer, it’s so tempting to rely on Photoshop and better, faster equipment - new cameras, bigger lenses, HD video, more megapixels. Bil’s work and words are a perfect reminder that great work comes from within. Inspired work doesn’t come from Photoshop; it comes from the mind and imagination of the photographer.

Anyhow, I’m posting this narrated slide show of Bil’s just to share some creative inspiration.

John

In the first two parts of the series I talked about the histogram. In this installment, I talk about how to put that knowledge to work when you’re shooting. Plus, in this video, I wear a hat!

Thanks everyone for the kind words and comments about the series. There’s more stuff to follow!

John

I’m in the middle of producing a magazine fashion shoot that I’ll be doing next week. We’ve got one model cast and now we need the second. We’re going for more of a European look rather than guy-next door, but that look is tough to find in San Diego. Today, Jeffrey - my art director/hair/makeup/stylist guru - brought by a potential model that he’d scouted. He’d shown me a few snaps but they didn’t impress me so I was a little skeptical. 

Right away, I could tell that the camera like Damon and that he’d be a good fit for our shoot. A lot of guys have one look and don’t know what to do with themselves. Even though Damon had no experience, he felt and looked comfortable in front of the camera.

Discovering new folks like this is always fun. With these shots, he’ll probably be able to get an agent and start working. I shot all of these with available light against a gray paper seamless. Nothing fancy although I did some work in Photoshop to deepen the shadows and play with the color.

John

Ah…. nothing like going home for the holidays. Here’s a little film that I put together from my trip to Los Angeles to visit my family. My youngest brother flew in from New York; his birthday is Christmas Eve. I’m the one with the cap and the glasses if you’re trying to keep track.

A Mireles Christmas - 2008 from John Mireles on Vimeo.

John