Studio Cabral

Monday, February 6, 2017

Photographing Events

Posted in CC's Tips, Event Photography

Photographing Events

One of the great compliments we receive after we photograph an event is that we are hardly noticed. We blend in with the crowd, mingle with the groups and find a way to make ourselves involved so that we do not stand out. It’s not about us, it’s about the event. That can be a wedding, charity event, birthday, funeral, etc. Blending in will make the event much more fluid and natural. It is as if we bring on a full ninja mode. One day we may show you our black belt.

While we navigate the room we do have the odd conversation or two and that’s fine we enjoy talking to people. It is also a great way of breaking the ice. If you were walking around with a large lens and pointing it here and there people may get nervous. To some it is intimidating and can take some time in getting used to. The golden rule on conversations is to avoid religion and politics. The exact opposite of the 80% of Facebook posts lately

The key is really knowing that everyone in attendance is there to have a great time and some do not want to be bothered, and that is fine. I know I would hate it if someone wanted to take my picture and I had food in my mouth. Besides we always ask beforehand and if someone says no we move on. No harm no foul. However they usually turn around later on and ask for a photograph. That is our answer to whether it is an open bar or not. Something that we would never have a clue, as we do not drink on the job.

The number one goal we have while photographing the event is to document it in it’s entirety while we are there. Someone paid to have that 5 story chocolate fountain there so shot it. But you can get as artsy as you like about it. There is no harm in that. A quick briefing with who ever is in charge will give you a great idea as to what is important. That is a great conversation to have as everyone values everything differently. I love people and can photograph them all day but some people like food. Both can be equally important but if someone let’s you know that the most important images is the food then you may want to focus more of your time on that.

Posted in CC's Tips, Event Photography Tags: event, event photography, photography tips, studio tips

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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Digital versus Print Photography

Posted in CC's Tips

Digital versus Print Photography

There is an ongoing debate that has been brewing for a few years now since the introduction of digital photography. That is a lack of printed photography. Prior to the year 2000 you could enter into anyone’s home and would size images upon images all over their home. On walls, tables, mantles, and in albums. Now not much in terms of photography, at least from our experience and we have been to a few homes. We have been into many homes and an entire generation may not be in any photographs, just the ones before. It’s a matter of documenting your own families history.

There may be a FALSE sense of security. Knowing that we have it on a DVD, USB or even our computer. But in the case of your computer one wrong button pressed you could lose an entire generation of images. Anyone who has had their laptop misplaced or stolen would know what we are talking about. There is also the case about what our future generations will be using to store their images. If you think they will be plugging in a USB, think again. Just ask yourself when was the last time you used a CD. Printed photography matters on so many levels.

If you didn’t have a photograph of your grandparents wedding you may have never know what they looked liked. You could see people you would never meet in person looking right back at you. I myself have just one picture of my maternal grandfather, a man I never met. It is important to me and I am sure that many of you have the same stories. It can be an easy thing to dismiss, just having it stored somewhere in “safe keeping” But that safe place may not register in a few days, months and years.

I few years back we just moved into our house and had framed photos along the floor ready to be hanged. A few days had passed and the framed photos stayed on the floor. Well a large rain storm came one day and our house become flooded. While the flood increased the first things we went to salvage were those framed photos on the floor. Mainly because we needed to move fast but mostly because they are important. In case of a fire a married couples first instinct is to get the family out. The next? usually grab their wedding album if they can. It’s that important.

Posted in CC's Tips Tags: digital photography, family photos, print photography, usb

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Friday, January 27, 2017

Chris’s Top 5 – People To Photograph ( Living )

Posted in CC's Tips

Chris’s Top 5 – People To Photograph ( Living )

Here is a Top 5 list of the people I would most like to photograph. There is one stipulation, they have to be living. I also list a few reasons why I would like to photograph these awesome people. Enjoy this Top 5 list.

5 – Andrew Lincoln
If you have been following our blog you may already know that I may have a fairly large interest in the television show The Walking Dead. Andrew Lincoln plays my favorite character Rick Grimes. My slight man crush started right from day one with the shows first airing. I even noticed right away that he was in the movie Love Actually. But Keira Knightly’s character decided to stay with her husband. Bad choice if you ask me.

4 – Anne Rice
My love for reading and anything to do with vampires started with a little book written by Anne Rice. The book?…Interview with the vampire. I read the novel before the movie came out in my teens. I love both the movie and the book equally. In my opinion I feel that the book is better than the movie. Either way my love for each would not count if not for Anne Rice.

3 – Paul McCartney
In the history of music no band is more influential than The Beatles. John Lennon and Paul McCartney were a great song writing team. But since the list is for those who are living, Paul makes it. But with good cause. If I were to list my 10 favorite songs ever, Paul McCartney wrote 60% of them.

2 – Nigella Lawson
It all started with the Food Network. I would watch with my wife and then one day Nigella Lawson was on. My life changed. I found food important for some reason. Not sure if it was her English accent or cooking style but I fell in love. I could watch her toast bread all day if she made a television show about it. It’s cool, my wife knows I have a crush on her.

1- Anthony Bourdain
Before CNN you could catch Mr. Bourdain on another network with his television show No Reservations. He would travel the world and taste anything and everything. I had never seen anyone with such a passion for life and food. Then I read his book Kitchen Confiditional. Anthony Bourdain become my idol. He is so awesome it would not be fair to list how awesome he is. But if you need a reason check out this video.

Posted in CC's Tips Tags: celebrities, portrait, top 5, wish list

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