By Jonathan Ment
Recently a prospective client called to discuss what they had in mind for photography.
The family would be gathering for a celebration in Tannersville, a combination coming of age for one and family reunion for all.
Milestones – a 90th birthday celebration and gathering, a young person coming of a certain age, a family expecting a baby in the near days – these are examples of what I often photograph.
Life’s big and little celebrations are all worth documenting. Time goes by quickly. By having a professional photographer on hand, everyone can relax and be in the moment. No one has to ask if anyone captured a shot, or who is going to share with who.
Back to prospective clients…
I’ve been a professional photographer for a number of years now and I’ve been asked all sorts of questions.
“Do you bring back up equipment?” That one turns up in wedding planning articles and magazines. “Yes, I do.” (It’s even spelled out in the simple contract I draft for most sessions big or small.)
“What do we get after the session?” … After your session I edit the photos, deleting the ones nobody would ever want to see and sometimes adjusting color or contrast. It’s light editing but it gives your gallery a more consistent look and feel.
Folks like special effects, I get it. I have been asked to add a sort of Sepia tone, versions of black and white which can be created digitally after the fact, lens flares, bokeh, and even “portrait mode” which blurs out the background digitally. Specifically, I get asked – “do you use any filters?” The answer, “sparingly.”
When your photos are ready they are delivered by email with links to download everything.
I also post your session to your online gallery where you can view and share the photos, order prints and more if you like.
Another question which is always asked, and fairly so, given the horror stories surrounding this subject
“How soon will we get our pictures?”
I allow myself two weeks to deliver your photos under contract but it is often 72 hours or less depending on the time of year.
As it turned out, this prospective client was specifically asking about an effect created in the lens through aperture and focus … Essentially what resembles “bokeh” to a professional is known as “portrait mode” to the cellphone photographer.
In the most simple terms and it’s when your subject is sharp and the background is blurred. This isn’t a precise explanation but it will serve. At the end of the day, for the casual selfie snapper, it’s a gimmick. Looking for specifics from Apple?
The easy answer, in response to that question, is “yes,” I sometimes create the bokeh effect (though it’s not a filter). Sometimes with a single subject or couple, sometimes with just their wedding ring. Here are a few examples.
As we talked, I learned the prospective client wanted the entire session to look this way. Every… single… shot! Forget that it’s not really feasible, I am confident it would be hard to look at.
If the session was a product shoot, rings or other jewelry, perhaps. But family portraits for 50? No way. Trying to explain this to someone who has their heart set on it and is considering a session on very short notice? That’s difficult. On some level, perhaps it’s my responsibility as a professional to try but only so hard.
A bit has been written on bokeh overuse, and while some has the whiff of photographers fearing for their future, I like what one commenter added here that photographers will ‘focus’ more on composition, lighting and telling a story.
Ultimately that’s the difference between having your photos captured on disposable cameras like they used to park on the tables at weddings, or the cellphones too many guests are distracted with when you’re exchanging your vows — and the cameras a photographer brings ‘to the table.’
I remember saying years ago “I could photograph a wedding on a cellphone but I wouldn’t want to.” That’s even more true today. There are too many operational or functional limitations. Cameras offer speed and ease of use that smart phones do not. If you know you know…
Need photography for your next major or minor milestone?
Let’s chat.
Email or text 845 430 4030 to get started, or simply dial that phone. When it comes to communication, I’m a little old school and don’t mind occasionally picking up the phone to speak!
Jonathan Ment Photography
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Jonathan Ment Photography 