Kim, Jessie and Jackie...... Sisters having fun!!!!

Kim , Jessie and Jackie were a fun bunch to photograph out at Tradition in Port Saint Lucie. We went to a few different places to see what kind of photos we could get of the girls. Tradition really has the old world charm with quite a few places to visit while your there. We started out at a park, and then we just walked "downtown" through the town square. It feels like you are back in the 50's (Back To The Future). Remember that movie? Anyhow we had a great time shooting and this is what we got......................


Jessie looking all that, isn't she just beautiful...





And her sister Kim was just having a great time on the swingset, well all of them had a great time on the swings.

Shoot and Burn?

The reason for this topic today is due to so many people wanting photographers to cut their prices. We are asked if we can do a shoot and burn for much less. Yes, it can be done, but things are sacrificed , like quality. The shoot and burn photographer will shoot your wedding and hand you the images right from the camera.

These images are not finished. They may look just fine but they are most likely not what you saw on their website that convinced you to use them. The finished artwork is why we have become photographers in the first place. Yervant, a fantastic photographer, says, "Straight from camera’ is not professional!!" Ever since professional photography has existed, FINISHING has also existed.

I have a vision of what I want the photograph to look like finished. When I am shooting I might be thinking that this photo should be Black and White, a vivid blue sky, or a cross processed image with sun flair in it. Photographers have changed their images from the original with film and now digital processing(or FINISHING) to make them perfect.
Today we have photoshop, lightroom, etc to make our images FINISHED.The individual decides whether they use the standard finishing like in the old FILM darkroom or to go much more with many of todays Artsy photoshop skills.

"I strongly believe that an image is not professional unless it is FINISHED! I am not talking about fixing a bad picture here, I am talking about FINISHING. A simple few steps to make a great image a perfect and professional image."says Yervant.

FINISHING is what makes us the professional photographer and helps clients understand our prices.
In todays world we are usually pretty picky when we buy things and want them to be perfect. So why would you want an unfinished photograph of the most important event in your life.
I have a few examples of before and after images to show exactly what I am talking about.

This first picture is right out of the camera.




This image is a finished image.






The same goes for this original image. It looks good but take a look at the one below it.








Chris and Natalia have made beautiful pictures with me. But once again the original image below is very nice but the final image (the second one down)is just that,FINISHED.

Comparing pics right from the camera

This picture is very acceptable right from the camera but when you look at the second one, which would you choose?

Chris and Natalia

Chris and Natalia Video

Natalia and Chris engagement shoot

This was our first meeting in person and the kickoff for 2009 engagement shoots. We decided to go downtown Stuart for their engagement shoot since there are so many wonderful places to go and explore.

They are a very fun couple so we were able to have fun and experiment a little too.

James Bond 007 Hibiscus Charity Ball

Beach shoot

Beach wedding shoot

Long Island Wedding 2008

Long Island Wedding 2008 Reception

A day at Bathtub Reef Beach

Bathtub Reef Beach is a great place to take the kids and just hang out. It really is a HUGE bathtub that the kids can go and find out about the Atlantic Oceans' Marine life firsthand.

We took Kieran (5 year old son) and Kaiden (4 year old son) to this beach for their first time. It had been closed since the last Hurricanes hit here from massive beach erosion.
When we got to the beach it was starting to rain , but as long time residents we knew that it would be a great day at the Bathtub Reef Beach.

Later that afternoon we were joined by one of our older sons Joshua, his girlfriend Kim and her sister Jesse. This just made the afternoon that much better.

I made one fatal mistake. Before I left the house I put sunscreen on both boys and I just figured I would put it on at the beach. It never happened. I was having such a great time relaxing in the shallow water with my kids that I never felt the SUNBURN and that I was cooking like a lobster.

Our new website is up and running!

Introducing our new website http://www.josephkeithphoto.com/.
It's been up for a few days and we have gotten some great reviews already. Michele is helping me edit more material that we are adding. Hope everyone likes it and feedback is always welcome. Keep checking back as we are adding and refining things frequently.
Cheers,
Joseph

Heather williams Worship Loud

Wow I am a bad bad blogger

Alright so I am a bad bad blogger. But in my defense I've been traveling and working very hard. I got to second shoot with Jason Groupp recently. Then I stayed around and went with him to the Two Views seminar with Yervant and Joe Buissink. I got so much out of the info I received I can't stress enough that everyone should see them. I am now resolved to take Mondays off. We went to the beach yesterday and had one of those rare days that we all will remember for years. The ocean was gently rolling and the breeze kept it from being too hot, it was one of those days we live in Florida for.Okay so rested and regrouped I'm now working on my website, so for those of you who have encouraged me, It Will Be Up Soon. Thanks for all your support and advice. See you on the forum.--Joe

Heather and Tim Williams Worship Loud

Check this out! We were lucky enough to photograph Heather and Tim and their band at our church recently. These guys ROCK!
Heather has just recorded a new album due out soon. She was able to record it in Rebbecca St James' studio. Check out more from her album at her link above.

Imagine Christmas

I just made this video by animoto of the play "Imagine Christmas" that was performed at Highpoint Community Church. This church has about 80 members and to put on a production like they did took almost the entire congretation to make it a reality.

Congratutlations to Pastor Mark Carrara for doing such a wonderful job.

Also a great big thanks to Heather Williams from Morningside Church for letting me use one of her songs called FREE for this video.

Imagine Christmas

More New York City Bride Photos

These photos are just a few more from my October 2007 New York City shoot. Enjoy!!

Austin and Christina were a lot of fun. We shot them by the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset.

We were trying to get a different look by using a video light
instead of traditional flash. I just love the results.


This is what bounced off camera flash looks like.


We were in Chinatown for these next pictures which were
a lot of fun to create.