Category : blog

Ferne

Posted on February 20, 2013 by jeff

Ok, can we talk about senior portraits for a moment?

Ferne is a senior at BUHS, and Les and I had the chance to work with her on her senior portraits this fall.

This series was done in our studio using only natural light.

Using outbuildings for backdrops is a
longstanding Vermont tradition!

This is not a fake backdrop—it’s the road in front of our house. Don’t you love Vermont?

Ferne pretending to be warm and doing a dang good job.
In the upper meadow’s late afternoon light.

We ask Seniors to bring a pile of clothes so they can get a variety of images.
For one of the last shots of the afternoon, Ferne busts out a sweater.

On the trapeze at New England Circus Arts. Trapeze work is one of Ferne’s loves, so Les and I arranged to do a portrait session at NECA.

The portable studio lights and 10-foot stepladder
were key for this session!

Ferne has been so fun to work with that we’ve asked her to model for a couple of hours a week as Les and I experiment with more dramatic lighting patterns.

I love the quality of the diffused light that just feathers Ferne’s face.

Les shoots with a digital pinhole camera. Crazy beautiful.

We ended our last portrait session with this image of Leslie’s.
She loved it so much, she couldn’t go on.

We’ll use this shot for Ferne’s first appearance on SNL.
Ferne, thanks for being so fun and so yourself!

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Michaela + Zach

Posted on July 13, 2012 by jeff

Michaela and Zach's day begins at the White House Inn in Wilmington. Zach, a sculptor, designed a number of the decorative details.

Michaela and Zach in the beautiful light on the Inn's main stairway.

My assistant (and wife) Leslie was using her digital plastic lens camera.

The radiant bride.

This is the type of dreamy and etheral image Leslie gets with her plastic lens. It's also the image Michaela and Zach selected for their album cover.

The Inn's front parlor.

Formal Portrait is a relative term.

So beautiful.

One of the three flower girls.

The ceremony was at Marlboro College professors Cathy Osman and Tim Segar's home. Friend and officiant "Pastor Dave" has the coolest hair style of us all.

A perfect Vermont day.

Joined together by love and joy.

The knot is tied.

The celebration begins at the White House Inn.

The view from the porch.

Zach's first, but not last, drink of the day.

Michaela's brother and his fiance delight the photographer by sitting in beautiful backlighting.

Mason Jars for all!

Zach created all the table numbers. This guy is amazing.

Michaela and friends create table decorations from birch bark.

Wait until you see the cake.

How cool is this?

The first dance.

Removing the garter, a time-honored wedding tradition.

Samirah Evans and her Handsome Devils provided amazing dance music.

The Perfect Storm: the bride is a dancer, invites all her dance friends, and has an amazing band.

Michaela and Zach, thanks for inviting me to be a part of your amazing and fun day! I know it is just the first of many amazing and fun days ahead.

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Nikki + Brandon

Posted on May 31, 2012 by jeff

Wedding season has officially started in southern Vermont, and what better way to kick it off than Nikki and Brandon's beautiful and fun wedding in Brattleboro?

Nikki created an elegant and dreamlike reception setting (with lots of help from friends and family).

A rare serious moment as Brandon says his vows.

Nikki's daughter Shenise looks on.

The first of many kisses.

The first of many dances.

Nikki's best friend Jolene toasts the bride and groom.

Nikki's family is from Jamaica and her Uncle Steve prepared the food. They insisted that the officiant Mary Cain and I join them for dinner. Have you noticed that most of my photography assignments involve amazing meals?

Nikki and Brandon wanted to get great images of their family and friends, so I set up a "photo booth" with studio lights and a backdrop. We had a lot of fun with it!

Nikki and Brandon's newly adopted daughter Leeannah and her godmother. Leeannah arrived two weeks before the wedding. What an absolute sweetheart!

Shenise and her cousins rock the photo booth.

Sisters

Jolene and her . . . son. He is mature for his age, and Jolene is not!

Love those earrings.

Brandon and his aunt.

Leeannah enjoys a quiet moment with her binky.

Nikki's sister and her son.

One of my favorite images from the day. I love the light on Nikki's face.

Congratulations Nikki and Brandon! Your wedding day was perfectly beautiful, generous, and fun—just like the two of you.

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International Photography: Central and Eastern Europe

Posted on May 3, 2012 by jeff

Here are a few images from Leslie’s and my recent trip to Central and Eastern Europe for World Learning.

Our first stop was Switzerland.

We were here to cover World Learning's work with college students and in international development. And eat chocolate in our spare time.

Prague, in the Czech Republic, and the base for the Arts and Social Change program. If you haven't been, you may want to put it on your list.

Many of the places we visited had a castle or fortress that looked over the town. How cool to have a town fortress?! Here, a new moon rises over Prague's castle.

Prague is a natural choice for the Arts and Social Change program, as it is filled with art, artists, and galleries. Kind of the Brattleboro of the Czech Republic.

A ceramic bowl crafted by one of the students for their Independent Study Project.

On a visit to the Museum of Prohibited Literature, students learn how writer's published their books during the Communist occupation.

It was amazing for the students to be able to touch and look through the actual books. The author's weren't seeking to foment revolution. They were simply trying to do their art by writing novels.

[/caption] Students in the Peace and Conflict Studies in the Balkans program visiting Srebrenica (pronounced Sreh bren EATsa). This image was made by my invaluable assistant (and wife) Leslie. Srebrenica is a small town in a beautiful part of Serbia, and the site of the largest genocide since the Holocaust. Nearly 8,000 Bosnian men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serbs over the course of three days. Hasan, one of the few who escaped, points out where he ran into the woods. He lost his twin brother, father, uncles, and cousins in the genocide. A student sees herself in one of the photographs in the Srenbrenica museum. One of the most amazing conversations of the trip, about the incredible patience required in addressing long-term problems. Nikica, the students' language teacher, processes the Srenbrenica visit with students on the bus trip to Belgrade. Nenad, the assistant program director, was totally great with the students and a good friend to us. He left a lucrative job as an electrical engineer in order to work with students. Program Director Orli Fridman leads a class discussion. Orli was born and raised in Israel, and has a passion for reconciliation and understanding between people. I never knew this, but a significant—and important—portion of World Learning's work takes place through its International Development and Exchange Program. Gordana, who studied in the United States for a year on an IDEP scholarship, shows us the research she is conducting on reducing sediment in water. Nikola, who studied entrepreneurship while in the U.S., now runs a company that provides aerial videography. Using a small radio-controlled helicopter he developed, Nikola is able to provide sophisticated aerial analysis for a fraction of the cost of using a standard plane or helicopter. Very cool stuff. Another alum of IDEP's college year in the United States, Ksenija is a gifted musician who hopes to return to the U.S. for her master's. Many students get their first impressions of the United States from U.S. TV shows. Having a chance to meet U. S. students and study in a place like the University of North Dakota in Fargo really changes their opinion of America and Americans—in a good way. Pavel uses the microbiology skills he learned in the U.S. to lead the six labs that comprise Serbia's national food administration, testing imported foods before they go on the market. He is 27 years old. Petra studied journalism in the United States and is now working for Vreme, Serbia's leading weekly news magazine. Her editor told us, "One day, she will have my job!" Macedonia was one of my favorite places. It's a complex, hopeful, two steps forward one step back kind of place. The new Supreme Court building is representative of a building spree in Skopje (pronounced SCOPE yah), Macedonia's capital. The many new buildings and monuments, being built while the country is experiencing a 30% unemployment rate, are somewhat controversial. One of many government commissioned statues. Many locals wonder if the money could be better spent. World Learning has been working with the Macedonians to improve their educational system. Here, a school inspector evaluates a class. A third grade English class. When we were leaving the class, the inspector asked the students if they could count to ten for the American photographer. They were up to 24 and still going when we closed the door on our way out. With a 30% unemployment rate, 70% of Macedonian students attend vocational school to learn a specific trade. World Learning is working with the vocational schools to update their curriculum to train students for the jobs of the future. I taught a photographic workshop to Association of Macedonian Journalists photographers during my stay. Here we're talking about images they took on a "Photo Safari" in Skopje's main square. We enjoyed each other so much that we got together after work the next day for a Beer Safari. What better way to end a blog than with a piece of chocolate cake. Especially the cake at Mortimer's in Geneva. The next time you're there, definitely check it out.

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How to Find a Good Wedding Photographer [for You]

Posted on February 26, 2012 by jeff

first date

If your photographer brings out the best in you, and you feel relaxed, calm, and like having them around, it will totally be reflected in your photos. The best way to find out if you enjoy being with him or her is to meet over coffee or drinks. You’ll have a pretty good sense after your time together whether it’s a good fit or not. You need your photographer to show up on time, to respond to questions and concerns quickly, and to do what they promise to do. References will help you find out about this. How quickly and effectively a potential photographer responds to your initial emails or phone calls is also a good clue.

style

Every photographer has a different style—some tend toward formal images, some are more edgy, while others are journalistic. You probably have an aesthetic you are drawn to, and it’s worth taking some time to find a photographer who makes the kind of images you love. The easiest way to do this is to check out photographers’ websites. You can also ask them to bring along an album or portfolio when you meet.

equipment

You don’t need a gearhead who has the latest and best of everything, but you do want someone who has good cameras and lenses so that you’ll get good quality photographs. The best digital cameras enable a photographer to get beautiful images in very low light, which means fewer flashing strobes and intrusion during your ceremony and reception. Good lenses provide crystal clear details with soft, ethereal backgrounds.

budget

When you think about it, nearly everything else in your wedding and reception budget—the drinks, the meal, the cake, the flowers, the tuxes, the tent, the band—is gone at the end of the day. The only thing that lasts—that brings to mind all the magic moments, the beautiful ceremony, that amazing cake, how much fun the band was—is the photographs. You may consider stretching in this one area of your wedding budget, knowing that you, as well as your friends and family, will enjoy these photographs for years to come. If a photographer’s packages don’t fit your budget, always ask what they can offer that will fit within your price range. They are usually willing to come up with a package that will fit your needs.

humor

You don’t need a stand-up comedian, but a photographer who takes his or her work seriously, and doesn’t take themselves too seriously, is a great addition to your day. Whether you prefer formal or casual shots of your family and bridal party, it’s good to have a photographer with a positive personality style who can get everyone in place for a great photo with a minimum of fuss. There is a little nervousness and stress on a typical wedding day, and it’s essential to have a photographer who will help you to be yourself, be in the moment, and have fun. Someone with a light heart, who finds joy in daily life, and enjoys laughter and celebration is your perfect wedding photographer.

more please

If I didn’t answer a specific question you have, please feel free to get in touch. I’m always happy to provide any information that will help you find a wedding photographer who will be a good fit for you, even it’s not me! You can contact me through my website at http://jeffwoodwardphotography.com/. Have fun finding the perfect wedding photographer for you. You’ll be thankful for your good decision for many years to come.

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