CrabtreePhotography

Blogging, $150 photographers and old age(experienced)!

2012-01-26T07:49:00.000-08:00

Part 1: To be honest....I am just not a blogger! Women are more inclined to be good bloggers than men. I am not a great writer or a great story teller!! That is just the facts! You can look back through my blogs and see how many months are between each blog. Photography is my second full time job. I work for an engineering firm and I deal with writing narratives and responding to agency comments so by the time I get to the point of blogging for my photography business I am burned out! Not really funny because I love doing photography! It is more than making money, it is a passion for me, it is my art!

Part 2: The second part is the abundance of $150 wedding photographers coming on to the scene. I thought it was something happening just in this part of Virginia but I was wrong! I have a lot of professional photographer friends in other states(Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, etc.) and they all tell me the same thing. You get someone that got or bought a new camera for Christmas or birthday and because the camera is so advanced that all you have to do is point it and it takes fantastic photos, they immediately think 'I think I will go into business as a photographer'. P is for program, not Professional!! I asked a person, that decided to become a professional photographer, not too long ago if they knew what an f-stop was or a shutter speed or aperture, etc. and I got the 'deer-in-the-headlight' look. Seriously if you want to do photography as a business, by all means, go right ahead. But first get a business license, insurance, back up equipment, pay sales tax......at least buy a good flash and then go for it! Expect to learn Photoshop or Lightroom or some kind of editing software and then give up a lot of your free time editing and also learn how to deal with a variety of people! They are your boss now! You strive to make your client happy!

Part 3: Age. I met with a lady, mother of the bride-to-be, and we hit it off immediately. The daughter was in another state and she left the leg work up to her mom. After the meeting I left feeling really good and expected to book in a few days. Wrong! I got an email and the lady said even though she wanted to hire me the daughter wanted someone 'younger'! Ouch! That hurt! I don't look at myself as an old man, I look at myself as someone with a lot of experience! I guess that is what I get for thinking!
As an old comedian, George Gobel (google him please), once said 'I feel like an old brown shoe in a black tuxedo world'. I am being phased out and that is a shame because I have a lot to offer and some are missing out on my 'experience'.
Nuff said!!!!!

Sessions in the hot, hot weather!!

2011-08-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

Met with a really nice young couple at Steele Creek Park Saturday July 30th, 2011. It was in the mid 90's when we got together. I showed up early to look at some good locations within the park and immediately knew we would have to shoot in the shade. Just standing still I started dripping in sweat so I knew it could turn into a horrible time. When Kim and Andrew showed up I was ready with suggested locations. Thinking ahead saved us all a lot of grief and we had a great time! If you need to shoot on a hot day, plan ahead and just be prepared for the sake of you and your client.

Natural Light versus ?

2011-08-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

Natural light......hmmmm! It would be great if you could use natural light in every outdoor shot. That is not feasible though. Why not enhance your photographic images with a flash. Seems like some of the photographers showing up on today's scene want to do all their shots using 'Natural Light'. That means one of two things. Either they can't afford a good flash or they don't know how to use a flash with natural light.

Experimentation is the mother of success!! Try it, you might like it!

Back in the days of film you had to know about f-stops and aperture settings when using natural light and with flash. Now with digital and the program settings there is no thought process associated with shooting. Just shoot and look at the little screen and if it looks halfway decent call it artistic expression.

I think I am just old fashioned. I like crisp clear images. I am able and willing to do journalistic type photography using 'Natural Light', but why not sharpen those images using bounce flash, not direct flash. Any photographers images would get a boost if they would take a little advice from someone that is willing to share that tidbit of knowledge. Natural Light.......hmmmmmm, sounds like a drink!

Engagement Photos at the Greenway Haven

2011-07-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

I had a great time with Jennifer and Jon at the Greenway Haven in Abingdon today. It was really hot but we had some wonderful shade and excellent lighting. Beautiful couple and totally in love! You could see it in their eyes!

Engagement in the heat!!

2011-07-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

I did an engagement session today in Wytheville at the Trinkle Mansion. Absolutely beautiful place. Kelly and Jodi wore casual clothes and just kicked back and let me guide them through the session. Kelly had some great input on a couple of shots and they turned out great! It was a hot day but we kept to the shade and had a great time.

Film versus Digital! No contest!!

2010-12-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

When I started into the world of photography you only had a few choices in film. There are three main roll film types in regular use: 35mm, 120 medium format, and 220 medium format roll films.(This blog doesn't include large format. That is for another day)

Medium format has traditionally referred to a film format in still photography and the related cameras and equipment that use this film. Generally, the term applied to film cameras that recorded images on media larger than the 24 by 36 mm of 135 film(35mm film is also called 135 film because that was the number Kodak assigned it. The standard 24mm x 36mm frame uses 864 sq. mm of film surface) but smaller than the 4 by 5 in (10 by 12.7 cm) size, which is considered to be large format.
In the film world, medium format has moved from being the most widely used film size (1890s through 1950s) to a niche used by many professionals and some amateur enthusiasts, but one which is still substantially more popular than large format.

I only used the 35mm but longed to get into the medium format arena but it was just too expensive.

When I first considered the digital cameras they were expensive but not as much as the medium and large format cameras. However it took some time for me to change over from film to digital and I did it reluctantly.

Now? I would not have anything else but a digital camera!

I carry three digital cameras on a shoot (in my Pelican case) and a film camera.....just in case!!

I don't know of anyone that uses 35mm film and really don't know if it is ready available.

The only drawback to digital is that anyone that can afford a $1,500.00, plus or minus, camera is a 'professional'!! Or at least they call themselves 'professional', natural light photographers.

When I used film in a wedding I always had two cameras handy. One for color and one for black and white. That was fun! The two cameras along with a light meter and rolls and rolls of film made for a lot of work. With film you had to know what you were doing in order to get a decent shot.

Not so with digital! You see instantly what kind of shot that you got and adjust immediately to correct the settings if you took a lousy shot.

All said and done film was fun! It was an adventure! It was a guessing game! The excitement in seeing your work and realizing the f stop you used was the correct one and it paid off.

I can do without that kind of excitement. Now, using digital, I can see immediately if I took the money shot or if I screwed up.

Film? Digital? Digital, hands down!!

Wedding Director? No I don't have one!

2010-09-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have photographed more than 300 weddings. Out of those weddings I would say that at least 30 or 35, maybe more, never used a wedding director or designated someone to 'run the show'. Bad idea!!
If you don't have a director or if the budget won't budge for a director, get someone that you trust and put them in charge. Things will go much smoother with someone in charge.
I did a wedding at a resort near Blacksburg a few years ago and I asked the mother of the groom where I could find the wedding director and to my surprise there wasn't one. You could have knocked me down with a feather!
I knew we were in trouble. No one knew what to do or where to stand, etc. Then the DJ stepped in and offered his advice and guidance. He had DJ'd at a lot of weddings and was confident that he could ease the worries. After he took charge the wedding took place without too much delay and not too many problems.
Not a long blog but needful. If you are planning a wedding, make room for a director. You will be happy you did!

New Canton Plantation Model Shoot

2010-08-01T19:29:00.001-07:00

New Canton Plantation is an absolutely beautiful wedding venue. Owned and operated by Bill and Angela Birdsong from Atlanta, Ga. They have been gracious enough to let me come and shoot there twice. Once in November of 2009 and July 2010 and I am scheduled to photograph a wedding there in June 2011. NCP is near Church Hill, Tn. If you need an affordable place to have a wedding check out their website http://www.newcantonplantation.com

Included in this blog are a few photos from the model shoot I did with Michael Wade a very good friend of mine. The dresses were provided by Patricia Edwards of Tricia's by Design - Fort Blackmore, Va http://www.triciasbridalandpageant.com.

To see more of these models go to my facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wise-Va/Stan-Crabtree-Photography/233173995827?ref=sgm

and look at the New Canton Plantation Model Shoot

Spring Time....Love is in the air...or is that pollen?

2010-04-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. Wedding season is beginning and I am excited. I enjoy being part of two peoples lives, if only for a brief moment of time. Talking to people on both sides of the family. Listening to their stories about the bride or the groom when they were young kids. Some funny little something that the Mom, Dad or Grandparents want to share with anyone that will listen. That helps me to make their time in front of the camera a joy for them and not a headache or a dread. The wedding day is a stressful day but I do everything I can to make people feel comfortable. Sometimes it is hard to get people to relax, to enjoy the day but I try.
Over the years I have had people talk to me about ceremony time. The ceremony was too long or too short. My preacher friend, better not use his name here, will not do a ceremony over 15 minutes. He says that they are just as married in 15 minutes as they would be in an hour. I understand his thinking. With a shorter ceremony the couple will have more time to spend with family before they take off for their honeymoon. However, I believe if a couple wants the ceremony to last an hour, that is their right.
I have seen some beautiful ceremonies that didn't last more than 15 to 20 minutes. And I have seen some that lasted over an hour, but was so beautifully done that it seemed like only 10 minutes had passed. I have been involved with some that did not last 10 minutes. In fact, the very first wedding I photographed, the ceremony was over in less than 5 minutes! That didn't give me a lot of time to take photos!!
Love is in the air. Enjoy your wedding. Enjoy your involvement in any wedding. At the end of the day, the couple will be married, life will go on and the memories will be a blur.
Make sure you get a photographer and videographer that has experience and knows his art. Then the memories can last a lifetime!!!!

Wedding at New Canton Plantation

2010-03-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

I am shooting my first wedding at the New Canton Plantation. It is owned by Bill and Angela Birdsong. Good people. Beautiful place, inside and outside. Lots of good opportunities to do some good shots. It is located near Church Hill, Tn. Check it out if you are interested in a unique venue for any occasion. I plan on doing a lot more shoots at NCP!!
My revamped website is complete, except for studio pricing. Take a look at www.stancrabtreephoto.com and enjoy!

Bright Future

2010-03-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is hard to make changes. Blogging is hard for me because I am not used to doing this. But change is needful. In any kind of business you either change with the times and cater to what people want now or quit. So I have changed. With the help of some good friends in the wedding business and on the advice of many women, in the wedding business and outside of the business, I have changed my website, my packages and my prices and more importantly my way of thinking. I have always catered to what people want but apparently not fast enough. I feel good about the changes and it may take some time for prospective clients to see the change but it is there and I am looking forward to a bright and exciting future in my photography business! Check me out at my new site www.stancrabtreephoto.com

Dream Weddings Bridal Show

2010-02-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

Sat. February 6th was the Dream Weddings Bridal Show held at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City, Tn. There was a great turnout and all of the booths were beautiful. Here is a link to see some photos from the show http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2037160&id=1195004864&ref=mf

Elite Wedding Event in Bluefield, WV

2010-01-11T20:56:00.000-08:00

This Saturday is the 2010 Elite Wedding Event of the Two Virginia's and is going to be held on January 16, 2010 at the Bluefield Area Arts Center in Bluefield, WV from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Door prizes will be given away on that day!
Come and join us and pass the word to those that you know are planning a wedding this year.

Aaron and Autumns wedding reception!

2010-01-11T14:14:00.000-08:00

We finally got to finish what was started on December 19, 2009. My son and his wife had their long awaited wedding reception on Sunday January 10, 2010. A little late but still very sweet. Not a lot of people showed up for the reception but the ones that did were treated to some good food and they got to see Aaron and Autumn cut their wedding cake, which was made by Autumns mother. They were hesitant about dancing their first dance because Aaron is not known for his smooth technique. He was good at football and excellent at wrestling.....dancing, no. But they danced to their song 'At Last' by Etta James. Nothing is as good as the original.

Dream Wedding Bridal Show

2010-01-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

MSW Worldwide is proud to present the Dream Weddings Bridal Show on Saturday - February 6th - 2010 at The Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City. The event features the best of the best in the Tri Cities' wedding market. See everything from wedding dresses to wedding cakes. Meet the pros and enjoy our relaxed bridal event. Great vendors like Crabtree Photography www.stancrabtreephotography.com , Susie's Specialty Wedding Cakes, Flowers by Copper Creek, Main Street Catering and Weddings by Adrianne start the list of 30+ of the area's best.

Planning a wedding takes time and resources and can be stressful. The Dream Weddings Bridal Show is designed with brides in mind and will make your planning fun and much easier. Plus, you'll save money too. Bring a friend and have fun.

Please join us between 11am and 4pm. Admission is only $10 and includes cake samples and a variety of food samples from our bakers and catering companies as well as The Carnegie.

How to Choose a Photographer!

2009-12-31T07:10:00.000-08:00

How to choose a photographer

Photographer Check list:
____ Make sure you know what is included in your package. Some photographers may start out low but will leave you shell-shocked at the end
____ Uses professional photo finishing laboratories and bookmakers.
Sure, you can get prints made at the local drugstore or discount outlet, but the results won’t be as consistent nor the quality of paper, chemicals and inks used the same as from a professional photo lab. You may be able to order a photo book online but it won’t be equal in quality to the books produced by pros-only sources. Professional services often have a vetting process in place and will sell only to professional photographers.
____Willing to listen to your needs. Communication is extremely important.
____Fits into your budget. This is a last criterion not first. If photography is important to you do make the effort to invest in someone that’s experienced, reliable and professional. It’s important to keep in mind that a bargain is only a bargain if the quality is acceptable.
____ Style of photography that you like
____ View AT LEAST one wedding from start to finish. ALL THE IMAGES
____ How many weddings have they shot? Wedding photography is different from any other type of photography. Good wedding photography is a blend of the artistic, the technical and the psychological. They must be able to produce quality work in chaotic, fast-paced situations.
____ Do they have referrals you can contact?
____ Do they bring back up equipment to your wedding? Very important!!!
____ Are they compatible with your personality. You will be with them all day.

A few money saving ideas:

- Do consider booking shorter coverage rather than full-day coverage. Just make sure your photographer will be there during the portion of the day that’s most important

- Consider choosing a package that is coverage and files only. Photographers will be happy to sell you albums when your budget can afford it.

- Ask if your photographer offers discounts or gives a price break for off-season or mid-week wedding dates.

- Ask your photographer for a custom package quote. Tell them what you want in terms of product and coverage time and see what they come up with

Terms to become familiar with:

Style of Work: Three types
(1)Traditional:
The Traditionalist tends to be very stylized with formal posed portraits. Traditional wedding photographers have a list of traditional wedding shots. This photographer typically tends to run the show.
(2)Photojournalistic:
The Photojournalists aim is to record the events of the day as they happen. Pure photojournalism will not have ANY posed shots, but rather captures the reality of the day. If you hire a pure photojournalist, be clear on exactly what you getting. Some couples are surprised when there are no posed pictures of themselves, families or groupings.
(3)Documentry:
This is a mix of traditional portraits and photojournalistic shots. 80 percent of wedding day photography just happens, and 20 percent are the relaxed groupings or posed shots. Every photographer has a different style, some lean more toward posed or photojournalism. It is important to view your photographer’s work before committing to an agreement to see if their style is right for you
Shoot and Burn:
This means you will receive raw (unedited) files from the photographer. No adjustment. You are thinking that should be ok, not always, some photographers do a lot of work after shooting to make their work presentable.
Image Ready:
Image ready means your files have been edited by the photographer and require no work from you. They are ready to print anywhere. Although different computers are calibrated differently but for the most part they are ready to go.

What makes me an expert?
I have been a photographer for around 30 years and in business as a professional wedding photographer for 10+ years. I have seen the industry go from film to digital, and traditional to photojournalistic. Please take a look at my site www.stancrabtreephotography.com.

THE WORST ADVICE I HAVE EVER HEARD:
‘Get a Student to photograph your wedding. It will save you money!!’
There are no do overs in wedding photography. If your student messes up. That is it. There are no chances to fix it. Even when hiring a photographer, make sure they have wedding photography experience, not just photography experience.

Why would you get a non-professional to document the most important day of your life?
Do you really want to trust the once in a lifetime moments to an amateur?

Now here is some really good advice:
Make sure you can see an entire event. Anyone can get a few lucky shots. A professional is going to produce consistently good shots all day long. Be sure to look at an album or two that contains one wedding rather than a “best of” book. Similarly, ask if you can view their online proofing area to see an entire wedding or two or three. All wedding planners will advise you to look at a complete wedding or two.

It is best to ask for referrals from previous brides.

New Year! Great Hopes!

2009-12-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

I am ready for the new year! I have great packages to offer any bride with any kind of budget. Check out my website at http://www.stancrabtreephotography.com
I have a lot of faith in the Tri Cities Dream Weddings network that I belong to. Some of the finest people that I have ever met and worked with!! I expect great things to come out of the Dream Weddings magazine and I am looking forward to the Bridal Show in February.
For those of you that do not know, the Dream Weddings show will be held at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City, Tn. on February the 6th 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Spread the word to all of those beautiful ladies that got an engagement ring for Christmas! Come and check out all of the vendors that belong to this networking group. Below is a link the the Dream Weddings website that will give you more information about the show. http://www.tricitiesdreamweddings.com

The hardest wedding I have ever photographed!

2009-12-28T17:45:00.000-08:00

My son got married on Saturday December 19th, 2009 and it is one for the ages. Something he and his wife Autumn will remember forever and to share with their kids and grandkids.

They had planned for months. Saving money for their honeymoon, buying all the little things that are needed for the wedding day, reception. The church was booked, the reception venue booked, the photographer(should I say who that was or could you guess) booked, the DJ booked, the dress bought, the tuxedos paid for. Everything in place......except the weather. My wife and I were keeping an eye on the weather. Snow heading our way. Surely not on Aaron and Autumns wedding day!

Thursday December 17th arrived and we met with Autumns mom at the UVA College at Wise student center to decorate for the reception. Everything went well and looked beautiful! Friday the 18th arrives, snow getting closer. My wife and I go to the Glamorgan Chapel fellowship hall in Wise, Va. to set up for the rehearsal and dinner. 2:30 p.m. it starts snowing. Not little flakes, HUGE flakes!! My oldest son Chris comes by and drops off my grandson CJ. He is worried about his wife and daughter and takes off to look for them. I leave to go home to get my son Austin to bring him back for the rehearsal and dinner. It takes close to an hour to go about 6.5 miles. People are in ditches everywhere and I am having to go through an obstacle course to get home but I make it. Unfortunately I call my wife and tell her that there is no way to get back to the church. She is stuck there to fend for herself and CJ. Chris has not made it back at that time. At 5:30 I post a photo of a pine tree, covered in snow, in my yard on facebook. Chris finds his wife and daughter and takes Brenda to his house. My wife is brought home by her brother around 6:00 or 6:30 and then the electricity goes off around 7:30. The rehearsal and dinner is called off without having to tell anyone. Everybody knows this storm is going to be bad, really bad!!

By the next morning we have between 18 and 24 inches of snow. How are we going to have a wedding? Are we going to have a wedding? We stay in contact with Aaron and Autumn by cell phone. All of the other phones are out. No electricity and no hot water.

Autumn and her mom finds a motel in Big Stone Gap, Va. that will let them come and take showers and get ready for the wedding. I borrow my father-in-laws four wheel drive truck to go get gas and kerosene and to size up the situation. I make it out to my future daughter-in-laws parents house where Aaron had to spend the night because of the snow. Everyones nerves are a little on edge. How are we.....they going to pull this off? Aaron and Autumn are determined to get married and I can understand why. Everything is paid for. If they don't get married, Aaron and Autumn, her mom and dad and my wife and I will be out a lot of money if it is postponed. The money is not an issue, their safety is though!

Autumn and her mom and bridesmaids head to BSG to get ready. Everyone else heads to the church to see what we can do. Autumns grandfather gets a couple of people together to clear the parking lot of the church. My camera equipment and batteries are ready, no problem there. I have photographed a lot of weddings with just my flash and no portable studio lights. Most of those weddings were outside in the summer or fall. This would be my first by flash entirely indoors.

The people that make it to the church, mostly family from both sides, quickly gather up candles and hand them out. We are going to have a genuine candlelight service. Aaron and his groomsmen find a room with windows, while there is some daylight left, and get dressed. Cold and dark is the best way to describe the sanctuary of the church. Even in daylight the church is dark on this day because of the overcast skies and it is still snowing. The wedding was originally scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m., it was after 5:00 p.m. and getting darker and everything was still not completely together. The flowers and other bridal necessities(by Paulas in Wise, Va.) arrive after she is contacted that the wedding is still taking place. The girls are doing the last minute preparations by flashlight. I start taking candid photographs of the girls getting ready and some of the flowergirl and whatever shots I could. Everyone is cold and it is dark but spirits are high, Aaron and Autumn are getting married!

One of Aarons groomsmen can't make it to the wedding. A wrestling coach from Castlewood, Va. Roads are too bad to get there. One of Aarons friends, Cody, has come to the wedding and he asks him if he would be a groomsman. Cody agrees but there is a problem. Coach Dean is short in stature, a real good person but not very tall and really muscular. Cody, on the other hand, is as tall as Aaron and not very muscular. How would the tux fit him? Perfectly! Cody tries on the tux and it fit him like it had been planned! Amazing!! It is a little after 7:00 p.m. and it is really dark. The candelabras are lit but doesn't give off a lot of light. All of the 22 people in attendance have candles but it doesn't help much. Everyone gets in place. No time to rehearse. I have done enough weddings to tell the groomsmen and groom where to stand but that is it. The ladies somehow know what they are supposed to do. Doors open and the bridesmaids start coming in, one at a time. My granddaughter Rachael uses a flashlight to shine on each person so I can focus my camera and take a shot. No electricity, no heat, no music. When the bride and her father walk in everyone stands and start humming the bridal chorus in unison. Sad but sweet. Something to remember.

The bride takes her place and the ceremony takes place. My oldest son Chris performs the ceremony and cries tears of joy for his brother and the privilege of being able to do his part for this day. They do the sand ceremony, the ring ceremony and they are married.

I usually take between 400 to 500 images at a wedding, sometimes more. At this wedding, my sons wedding, all I can get is around 175 to 200 shots. I did all I could do for them and somehow it didn't seem enough.

We all go next door to the fellowship hall and eat cold lasagna, banana pudding, Martha Washington candy(or peanut butter roll) and various other foods, by candlelight. It was cold and dark but Aaron and Autumns smiles lit up the room. They are married at last!