About Scott
Years ago (decades, in fact) I was at a crossroads - photography, or tropical fish. I did not choose photography at the time, as it just seemed too expensive to get into. I mean, I could get an entire aquarium set up for a quarter at a garage sale, and my fish were breeding like crazy. I sold enough fish to pay for supplies. It seemed like I'd made the right choice.
Later, my friend and his brother set up a darkroom. I spent many an hour hanging out with them learning about how to develop film, and make proper exposures, and still, I really wanted to get into photography, but had no extra income for this hobby.
By the time digital cameras were developed, I was up to my gills in the aquatic business. I did get a Kodak easy share for pictures of the stock I was selling, and loved taking family pictures as well. It wasn't until after the failure of the retail store, that I stepped back and realized just how expensive my cheaper hobby had become.
Photography
As I slowly paid off my business debt, I started to poke around and read articles about different cameras, and how they worked. I had Photoshop at work, and it seemed like the right tool for editing photos, if I could just get my hands on Photoshop at home, and a good used camera, I could start.
I got a Canon G11 and a tripod. I rigged it so that I could take portrait angle images, and stitch them together for a wider angle view than I could normally get with this type of point and shoot. It worked pretty well, however, a realtor friend of mine went with me to one of her listings, and she shot with a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera, and as I compared my results with hers, I knew that she'd blown me away.
Enter the Canon 5D and a wide angle lens (all still used - I love the internet). My photographs were so much better due to the quality of the camera and lens. Still, something was missing:
Lighting
As anyone who has taken a picture in a room with a window will attest - something's gotta give - the exposure for the window is either just right, and the rest of the room is dark, or the room is pretty good, and the window is a white blur (a.k.a. blown). This is because unlike the human eye, a camera cannot compensate for the difference, and must be adjusted for the one extreme or the other.
I've added portable speedlights to my aresenal. this series is a quick example of what can be done with this lighting and Photoshop to give your images the extra light it needs to really improve the impact you want.
Now I am able to balance out the inside light with the light pouring in through the windows for pretty much any residential room.
On a larger area, or one with some artistic issues (as below) we can trick out the lighting with multiple exposures with highlight flash, and some work in Photoshop.
Image 1 is a section of a dining room (cropped to focus on the changes, a proper exposure would include much more of the room)
Not bad, but the walnut table sort of brings too much weight and thus attention to the furniture, and not the room. Adding highlight to the table will actually enhance the room. So a shot with a speedlight:
give us a really dark room, but a nice start on highlights. In Photoshop we blend the two exposures and the table is lightened, and the room looks better overall.
Repeating the highlight exposure throughout the room would really make the room pop!
Portraits
The nice thing is, some of the items needed to take great real estate and architectural photography are also needed for portrait work.
I've added a couple of plain backdrops, and some umbrellas for the flash lighting - along with remote trigger for the whole thing, and now I have a portable studio.
Training?
I started, just like any other photographer, taking pictures, not photographs. I've done a lot of training, and will always look for more. But to enhance my skills, I've also studied art and the universal principles of design such as negative space, balance, harmony and how placement and posing can influence the way a person perceives the image.
I've taken tons of training in image retouching and enhancement. I've learned to do this work with a light and sensitive touch. Oh, and I've added a wacom tablet to do this fine detail work.
I've applied all that I've learned in my web development work in terms of user experience related to design, and applied it all to photography. I have even studied best business practices for photographers, to make sure that I was ready. I have not rushed into this business, and will not rush a photographic assignment.
Weddings?
I have not taken wedding photographs. I am very interested, and if you would like to discuss it with me, I will make sure that I am ready for your special day. I will offer you a great deal to allow me to preserve your wedding day as I build my portfolio and skills.