Practice #2 – Exposure in bright light
With the days getting longer, I thought it prudent to practice photographing in bright sunlight. I met Erin and her two fabulous sons Logan and Miles at the Golden Gate Park Playground in San Francisco. It was a beautiful, bright afternoon so it was perfect. I shot in manual with my 85 1.8. And to reduce the “I’ll take care of that with photoshop” thoughts, I shots jpgs instead of RAW. I worked on reading the photographs via the histogram and changing the settings with out moving the camera from my eye. All in all it was a really great shoot – Logan and Miles were perfect models and played in the grass and the trees and I think we got some nice shots.
One cool thing was seeing Miles’s face get lit up by the reflection off of Erin’s shirt. You can see it in the photograph with her laying down and him standing up. His face is ever so slightly light up by the reflection. I never realized that would happen. Might be useful next time I photograph a baby or a toddler.
Thanks Rudsenke Family. I had a great time and learned a ton.
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Blog Link: http://wp.me/pFbSK-jp
And he’s off!!!! Family portraits with Charlie, Cara and Scott
When Cara told me that Charlie loved to run from the Ferry Building to the Ball Park, I thought she was exaggerating a bit like all parents do (myself included). All children run and play right? Boy was I wrong.
Charlie runs and I mean he runs everywhere. In the Ferry Building, down the piers, along the Embarcadaro, and up and over cement blocks – he ran and ran and ran. Literally he was a streak of arms, legs and a great big smile.
It was awesome to see and his energy made for a great family portrait session. I definitely have to give props to Cara and Scott – they have such a great attitude and just kept up with him where every he went. And they definitely know how to be flexible. When we lost the sun at the Ferry Building, they suggested going up to their home in Potrero Hill which turned out fabulous. If you don’t know, Potrero Hill has amazing views of San Francisco and great afternoon light.
Of course, that gave us more time to photograph Charlie running.
Thanks Cara and Scott and good luck keeping up with Charlie. If I were you, I might consider stock in a running shoe company. I think you might need a few pairs in the years to come.
A few sample photos below and the rest are on the way.
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A little video from after the shoot. We had to get close because the wind picked up.
Blog link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/1186
Nopa Little Ones and Music Together
Sunday was the monthly playgroup for the Nopa Little Ones. How these parents find time to organize such amazing events, I’ll never know. This time we were at the Brahma Kumaris Center for Music Together classes. There must have 50 children plus their families all singing, dancing, pounding on drums and shaking bells. Lucius and I stayed there for both sessions and it was really nice to see him go from nervous observer (he literally sat in the hall way most of the 1st session) to participant in the second. If you live in San Francisco, I would definitely recommend checking out the Music Together folks – especially if you are a rhythmically challenged parent like myself.
These photographs were all taken from one place and mostly from the hip. Apologies in advance for all the children I missed.
A few samples below and the rest are here (password required – you can get it from the nopa list serve).
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blog link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/1181
Cheryl, Vijay and Baby-to-be in Alamo Square
Cheryl and Vijay are something like eight and half months pregnant and I have to say they are doing extremely well – happy, relaxed (for the most part), and clearly working together. I really enjoy seeing a couple that is so connected as they are. Not only does it make a make a maternity portrait session a joy but you just know that the little child will be well cared for and loved. Serious congrats to them for not only their new baby (almost) but also for their new house. They definitely have it going on and I can’t wait see them they are officially a family.
We met at Alamo Square. If you are familiar with San Francisco or have read any of my previous Alamo Square posts (I have a lot of family photo shoots there), then you know this is the home of famous Painted Ladies. It’s also windy and on this day gray and cold. Cheryl and Vijay didn’t let that slow them down and we got some really nice photographs. Best part was seeing how playful they are together. Vijay channeled his inner diva and came up with all sorts of posing ideas. Apparently he had been thinking about this day for sometime. Cheryl showed a level of grace and elegance that was a pleasure to work with – and that is saying something given how pregnant she is.
Cheryl and Vijay – thank you for letting me be apart of the this time in your lives. Best wishes with the delivery and in the weeks until I see you again.
A few samples below and the complete gallery here (password required).
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Blog Link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/1170
Practice Sesson #1 – Reflections in the Panhandle
I wanted to keep track of what I learned in my practice sessions so I figured I would just blog about.
Yesterday, as has been common place this year in San Francisco, there was crazy rain up until 4pm. Rain was so heavy in fact that I had tentatively canceled the practice session. But the sun popped out so I ran down to meet Annika, Loden and baby brother Shael in the Golden Gate Panhandle. I was there to practice reflection shots but Loden was there to fish. Cutest thing – he kept handing me a stick and asking “do you want to fish with me?”
I was inspired to try reflections after seeing the work of FC Wong (http://www.fcwongweddings.com/). His work is awesome and so original that I wanted to give them a go.
What I learned:
* colors look great after a rain storm
* Reflections for reflections sake don’t work – entire image still needs to have artistic quality
* With a reflection, I need to clarify what is the main focus – the reflection or the real item/person. If it isn’t identified, then the observer has the unsettling experience of going back and forth between the two.
* Make sure that that the reflection contains everything – I have one shot below would have been the money shot of the shoot if I hadn’t cut his head off in the reflection.
* in a flat reflection like a puddle, you can turn the image upside down for an interesting effect.
Great first practice session – that you Ehrlich family.
Gallery is here.
Blog Link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/1135
Tamar’s Birthday Party
On Saturday, Tamar had her second birthday party at Ruby’s Tumbling in Alameda. Tamar is the daughter of our good friends Tora and Shi. There were about 20 kids and their families there and everyone seemed to have a great time. Ruby’s is a perfect spot for parties for children. Lucius loved the rope swing and all the padded blocks and balance beams. Yet another reason why leaving San Francisco is actually an OK thing to do.
Thanks Tora and Shai. Happy Birthday again Tamar.
Gallery here (password required).
Miles in the Mission – Classic San Francisco Portrait Session
This portrait session goes down as one of the great lessons learned – always be ready and never give up.
Saturday started off as crazy rainy day in San Francisco. Dark, blustery and definitely not a day for a family portrait session. The Laffan Family lives right in the middle of the Mission – one the hippest neighborhoods in San Francisco. Angela wanted a few photographs of little Miles as a child with the murals that decorate numerous buildings and alley ways in that part of town.
We talked at 2 that afternoon when it was raining cats and dogs and decided to postpone the shoot. By 3pm, the sun was breaking through the clouds and city was looking incredibly beautiful. I wasn’t entirely comfortable calling back Angela but the light was so amazing that I thought it was worth another call. Turns out Angela was thinking the same thing so we agreed to meet at 4. I threw my camera bag in the car and headed to her house.
The portrait session turned out amazing. We got shots that wouldn’t have happened had it all gone as planned. Light was reflecting off the water and walls which lit up little Miles’s eyes and great smile. Plus it gave him numerous puddles to play in. And when he got hungry, we just rolled with it and got food at a taqueria. That made for candids that honestly I never would have suggested. Angela was great the entire time and made for a fun and relaxed experience.
Thanks Angela for not letting the weather stop you and Miles. I really enjoyed meeting you and learned a lot from this session. I hope you enjoy the photographs.
A few samples below and more on the way.
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Blog Link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/1110
Doc Oliver’s First Birthday Party
On Saturday, I got to spend the morning with the Tran Family and 20 or so of their friends to celebrate little Oliver’s first birthday. We met for a Korean brunch at the Seoul Garden in Kabuki Shopping mall. Oliver was there with his sister Shea and his parent’s Amy and Owen. Oliver was all styled out in his traditional Korean hanbok. Amy and Owen were happy when Oliver picked out a stethoscope in his doljabi ceremony. The stethoscope was laid out in front of him along with a baseball, $20 bill, a crayon. Tradition says that the stethoscope selection means Oliver will have a long and successful career as a doctor. We’ll just have to see how that works out but I can say that he has a great community of friends in San Fransisco to help him with all the hours of studying that he seems destined for.
Thanks Tran Family for including me in Oliver’s birthday. And if you need a photographer for Oliver’s med school graduation party, please give me a call.
A few sample photos below and the complete gallery here.
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Blog Post Link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/1086
Galleries
Maternity/New Born
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Maternity Photography - Joey Chandler Photography - San Francisco Portrait Photographer
Few times in life are as exciting, amazing, wonderful and down right terrifying as when a baby is on the way or after he/she is born. Mom, Dad, Grandparents, friends, family and everyone involved will experience a wide range of emotions. That’s what makes it so exciting. My job as the photographer is to convey as many of those emotions as possible. As always, we are blessed with numerous location possibilities in San Francisco and around the bay, but honestly, I love to work with people in places that they are familiar with, like homes, parks and neighborhoods.
Blog link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/1022
