Tag Archives: photographer

Mastering Depth of Field: A Guide to Captivating Photography

Hello friends,

It has certainly been a long time since I wrote a photography tip and today I am feeling inspired. So in an effort to kick off my tips again, as a topic to share I am thrilled to delve into the fascinating world of depth-of-field and how it can elevate your photography skills to new heights. Understanding and controlling depth-of-field is essential for capturing breathtaking images that will leave a lasting impression on your audience. Let’s dive right in!

Tip 1: Aperture, the key to depth-of-field. One of the primary factors that influence depth-of-field is the aperture setting on your camera, assuming that you have the ability to control it. Aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens through which light passes to reach the camera’s sensor. A wider aperture (smaller f-number) creates a shallow depth-of-field, resulting in a beautifully blurred background while keeping your subject in sharp focus. Conversely, a narrower aperture (larger f-number) produces a deeper depth-of-field and is ideal for landscapes or capturing a scene where you want as much in focus as possible.

Tip 2: Understanding the Impact of Focal Length. The focal length of your lens plays a significant role in determining the depth of field in your photographs. Shorter focal lengths (wide-angle lenses) tend to have a deeper depth-of-field, making them suitable for capturing expansive landscapes or group shots. On the other hand, longer focal lengths (telephoto lenses) create a shallower depth-of-field, perfect for isolating subjects and achieving stunning background blur.

Tip 3: Distance Matters. The distance between your subject and the background can greatly affect the depth-of-field in your images. The closer you are to your subject, the shallower the depth-of-field will be. To create captivating portraits with creamy bokeh, position your subject a moderate distance from the background and use a wide aperture. For landscape shots, increase the distance between your subject and the background, and consider using a smaller aperture for greater sharpness throughout the scene.

Tip 4: Manual Focus. While autofocus is a fantastic feature in modern cameras, there are times when you may want to take control of the focus for precise depth-of-field. Switching to manual focus allows you to fine-tune the point of focus, ensuring that your subject is tack-sharp and the background beautifully blurred, thereby enhancing the overall aesthetic of your photograph.

Tip 5: Experiment with Foreground Elements. Incorporating foreground elements can add depth and interest to your photos. By positioning objects closer to the camera and using a wide aperture, you can create a sense of depth and lead the viewer’s eye towards the main subject. This technique is especially useful in landscape and street photography, where it adds a three-dimensional feel to your images.

And it goes without saying that in order to keep your photographs sharp and in-focus, try to use a tripod and a shutter release cable or remote whenever possible. This will help eliminate any movement of the camera during the actual image capture.

Conclusion: Mastering depth-of-field is an essential skill for photographers seeking to add artistic flair to their work. By understanding the relationship between aperture, focal length, and subject distance, you can create images that truly stand out. Don’t be afraid to experiment, as each scenario presents a unique opportunity to express your creativity and tell compelling visual stories through your lens. So, grab your camera, apply these tips, and watch your photography skills soar to new heights!

Happy shooting!

Posted in Photography Tips & Techniques Also tagged , , , , |

And…The Force Was With Them

Wow! What a fun and beautiful wedding day!

It is always such and honor and a blessing for Chris and myself to be asked to photograph a wedding. This one was special…

With a nod to some of our favorite Sci-Fi/fantasy fiction/sit-com series (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Friends, Big Bang Theory), Matt and Susan were “going on an adventure”.

Our happy couple said their vows in Susan’s parents back yard with friends and family there to celebrate with them. It was absolutely beautiful (which you will see in the pics I’ve posted)! And so much fun! There was laughter, dancing, joy and true love throughout the day. What an amazing day! Starting off with the “pre-flight announcements” and concluding with fun and funky dancing-it was the best! Oh, and let’s not forget the incredible dessert table that Susan’s mom and friends put together. Certainly one of the best that we’ve ever seen (and tasted).

Congratulations, Matt & Susan. Thank you for choosing us to help capture your special day and be part of your wedding celebration.

May the Force be with you. ALWAYS!!!

~ Lynette

Posted in Family Portraits, General, Portraits, Wedding Photography, Weddings Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

Another Real Estate Photo Shoot

Hi Friends,

As I complete another set of photographs for one of the best Real Estate Brokers that I know, I wanted to remind my readers that I am available to shoot your real estate properties with both ground photography and aerials (airspace clearance dependent).

In case you missed it, I possess Unmanned Aerial Vehicle license and have FAA clearance to fly a drone legally and without any issues (can that be said about the “budget” guys?). I can even get limited permission to fly in certainly classes of airspace with the proper planning.

If you haven’t seen what that might look like, you can find an example of my video work at this link. The video I take can be used independently or as part of a sales pitch published by residential or commercial real estate agents. And as far as photographs are concerned, you can see some examples of that work on my real estate portfolio page, albeit that most of it is non-commercial RE.

I want to extend an offer to you to have me come out and film and photograph your residential real estate or commercial real estate and use the product as part of your marketing campaigns. My rates are reasonable, my turn-around is quick, I’m insured, and available most of the time within reason. So don’t hesitate to call me and let’s at least discuss.

Blessings and God’s peace.

Chris

Posted in Drone Photography, Real Estate Photography Also tagged , , |

We Won a 2023 Telly Award!

Hello friends,

We are excited and thrilled to announce that we have won a 2023 Telly Award (winner banner) for our production of “Maui Dawn to Dusk“, a compilation of video that I shot over the course of a day during a trip to Maui last summer. This is my second Telly Award, my first being last year for a video I produced features some locales around Washington State.

The Telly Awards were founded in 1979 to honor excellence in local, regional and cable television commercials with non-broadcast video and television programming added soon after. With the recent evolution and rise of digital video (web series, VR, 360 and beyond), the Telly Awards today also reflects and celebrates this exciting new era of the moving image on and offline.

The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Receiving over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world. The Telly Awards recognizes work that has been created on the behalf of a client, for a specific brand and/or company (including your own) or self-directed as a creative endeavor.

To say that I am excited to have received such a prestigious honor is an understatement. However, I am humbled to have been invited to submit and be even considered for such an achievement as there are so many talented individuals and production companies creating and producing so many beautiful and entertaining programs and I would never want to presume that what we do is anything greater or more significant.

I want to thank you all for your support over the years and encouragement to keep going.

Blessings to you all.

Chris.

p.s. you can find the video at this link on YouTube ,on Vimeo , or click the banner below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsbW_Vmy9-I&t=8s

Posted in Drone Photography, Landscape and Nature Photography, Photography Tips & Techniques, Shot of the Day Also tagged , , , , , , , , , |

We Won a 2022 Telly Award!

Hello friends,

We are excited and thrilled to announce that we have won a 2022 Telly Award (winner banner) for our production of “Around 2021“, a compilation of video that I shot around the region last year. It is a first for me to win at this level, especially since I haven’t really done much with video in the last few years-at least professionally.

The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 to honor excellence in local, regional and cable television commercials with non-broadcast video and television programming added soon after. With the recent evolution and rise of digital video (web series, VR, 360 and beyond), the Telly Awards today also reflects and celebrates this exciting new era of the moving image on and offline.

The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Receiving over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world. The Telly Awards recognizes work that has been created on the behalf of a client, for a specific brand and/or company (including your own) or self-directed as a creative endeavor.

To say that I am excited to have received such a prestigious honor is an understatement. However, I am humbled to have been invited to submit and be even considered for such an achievement as there are so many talented individuals and production companies creating and producing so many beautiful and entertaining programs and I would never want to presume that what we do is anything greater or more significant.

I want to thank you all for your support over the years and encouragement to keep going.

Blessings to you all.

Chris.

p.s. you can find the video at this YouTube link or on Vimeo.

Posted in Drone Photography, Landscape and Nature Photography, Photography Tips & Techniques, Shot of the Day Also tagged , , , , , , , , |

Paige is Graduating!!!

It was such a privilege to meet up with Paige for her Senior Photo Session. And extra special because Chris and I are friends with her folks. In fact, we shot their wedding a few years ago…and now it’s time for their oldest to graduate!! We were blessed to have had some amazing weather on one of the only dry days these past couple of weeks.

Paige is an amazing young woman who is an honor student and plays water polo for Rogers High School. As you will see from the pics, she LOVES sunflowers!! We had a great time on the waterfront and in downtown Tacoma…and she was awesome!!

Congratulations, Paige! You will do great things!

Blessings,

~Lynette

Posted in Portraits, Senior Portraits Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Giggsters One of Tacoma’s Best Landscape Photographers in 2021

Hi Friends.

It’s no secret that the Pacific Northwest is home to some of the most majestic scenery in the United States. Breathtaking coastlines, lush forests, and gushing waterfalls lie around every corner, offering plenty of inspiration for landscape photographers. As a result, Tacoma and Pierce County is home to some of the best in the business, who have made documenting natural scenes their mission.

We are happy to report that I made Giggsters list as “One of Tacoma’s Best Landscape Photographers” for 2021. Quite an honor to be sure.

Head over to their page at this link to see: https://giggster.com/blog/landscape-photographers-tacoma-wa/

And as always, check out my landscape portfolio page or scroll through this blog to see some of my work.

Blessings,

Chris.

Posted in General, Landscape and Nature Photography Also tagged , , , , |

Drone Photography Now Available for Business and Personal Use

Hello friends,

I am pleased to announce that I have passed my FAA Part 107 exam and am now a licensed commercial drone pilot with capability for drone aerial photography and/or video.

What does that mean for you? Well, drone photography offers a perspective that ground photography just cannot provide. In real estate, aerial photography is the perfect way to show off the surrounding environment of your property. Why? Because location is everything. And for many industries, location sells.  For others, the use of aerial photographs or video can be included in digital marketing (and print with photo) on your website, social media posts, and email campaigns. It really doesn’t matter what your business does or where your business is located, by adding stunning visuals it will truly complement your marketing and creative efforts on getting your message out. And finally, keep your employees and crew safe and out of danger by using my drone services for various inspections and assessment of hard-to-reach or potentially treacherous places and situations.

Our aerial photography and video services are not only just for business, but also for every individual. Consider a personal portrait session and wedding photographs that can now have a new perspective for a truly unique image. We are only limited by your imagination and what is legal and limited by FAA regulations.

Please give a call and let’s talk about how we can help you achieve your goals.

Blessings,

Chris.

BTW-don’t forget to visit our Instagram page.

Posted in Architectural, Drone Photography, Engagement Photography, Event Photography, General, Landscape and Nature Photography, Photography Tips & Techniques, Real Estate Photography Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Fireworks 2019

Hi all.

I’m not going to spent a lot of time telling a story about yesterday, but I wanted to post a few pics I took of the neighborhood fireworks.

Thanks to Joe and Leslie for letting us crash your place this evening.

Blessings,

Chris.

Posted in Event Photography, General Also tagged , , , |

The Newlyweds – Whitney and Jeremy

I am so happy for my friend, Whitney and her new husband Jeremy! As a special treat, Whitney and Jeremy had me take some pre-wedding photos the day before they were married. It was wonderful to have the time to move at a slower pace than on a regular wedding day and really enjoy watching the love bubble up between these 2 people.

Congratulations to you both! I pray your marriage is blessed with a lifetime of joy.

~Lynette

Posted in Wedding Photography Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , |