Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer

Missing Attachment

Because of my low price on wedding package, I am worried that some people might think I use substandard photography equipment.  I would like to make it clear that I use 100% professional equipment.  Below is my “light box”.   I keep my wedding flash kit in this case. 

Anyway, you should see me setting up these lights in 5 minutes for formal photography session.  I like 2 wireless flash setting.  Sometimes I use a  background light.  I literally run corner to corner, measure lights, and still manage to keep people smile and have fun. 

4 Flashes, 3 remote transceivers, light-meter, & hardware.

Missing Attachment

** Geek Blog Warning **

In addition to my AS degree in Photography, I have a BS degree in computer.  As much as I enjoy photography I also enjoy computer and electronics.  When I was 12 years old I made myself a transistor radio (by soldering tiny electronic parts on the circuit board).

Photography is both art and science (and business :)).  This blog shows my left brain at work.

I needed to make some improvement to my existing flash light.  I thought it would be nice to install a remote trigger jack on my Canon 580EX.  I have a wireless flash system for normal wedding situation already.  With this modification, I will have more flexible lighting configuration without carrying extra flash unit.  It’s all good and fun.  I could not resist the urge to crack open and see what I can do.

I paid $380.00 for this flash less than a year ago.  But no sweat.  This is a somewhat well known fix among techie photographers.  I found the instruction online and simply followed what it said.  The whole project was was simple and fun.  I wished it was a bit more complicated.

PS. The project took place because of two recent events:  1.) I didn’t have Internet for a few weeks.  So I have some free time to enjoy other things.   2.) I had a wedding photography job at Santa Barbara a few days ago.  The ceremony location was very dark.  I felt the need for adding one more remote flash in my line-up. 

Before drilling a hole

Case Closed

Finished Product: Now I am able to use it as a wireless system when needed

###

Missing Attachment

It took me 3 weeks to overhaul 3 cameras.
They were all EOS-3's, my main film cameras.

No, I didn't work on the cameras myself.
I took them to Pro Camera at Thousand Oaks.
It was a hassle to find time to drive to Thousand Oaks after work.

I have non-stop wedding schedule, so I checked in one camera at a time.

I spent over $400.00 on this project, yikes.
It's good to know all my cameras are rejuvenated.

Side note:
I'm  in the middle of non-stop weddings season.
I have a wedding this Saturday as well.
The bride and groom for this week's wedding ordered a 20×24 signing board and an easel.
We took pictures only a few weeks ago. 
And I just received the 11×14 reprint today.
I need to mount this on a 20×24 matt board tonight.

———————————

VenturaPhoto.com - Photographer Santa Barbara

Missing Attachment

I had to get off work early to take care of 2 jobs.

I went by a camera repair shop and picked up my second camera and dropped off my third camera.

I am over-hauling all my 3 film cameras for optimal performance.  My cameras are pretty clean, but I cannot take chances with wedding photography.  I do routine checkup every year or so.  And I do complete over-haul every few years.

After picking up my camera, I went to the city of Reseda (San Fernando Valley) to meet a possible wedding client.

We met at Starbucks.

The meeting lasted about 1 hour.  The entire meeting seemed like a stand-up comedy session.  We cracked a lot of jokes (well, I did).  

Some people come to the meeting all serious (with a notepad full of check-list).
Some people come to the meeting with the signed check in the hand (decision already made).
Today's bride and groom spent long time researching for wedding photographer and they spent enough time communicating with me via email.  They have already made a decision to hire me before coming to the meeting.  They came to the meeting to confirm that John Park exists, so they can make a deposit.  Wedding was booked on the spot.

The bride is an artist.  I am a little nervous about that.  It's not that normal folks don't know photography.  I am nervous because artsy people have specific taste (preferences).  

During the meeting I showed her different styles of photographs.  She told me what she liked and what she didn't like.  I took a note.  :) 

Wish me luck.

Missing Attachment

Wedding photography is an extremely physical job.
I often stand under the direct Sunlight for hours at a time.
I cannot wear a hat or Sun-glasses, I want to look proper for the event.
I cannot rest in the shade or get a drink of water.
I get my rest when everything is over.

I must prepare for any kind of situation and weather I will face.
One of the toughest challenge is the hot weather.
You have no escape but taking that full Sunlight for several hours. (and keep happy face, AND take good pictures)
One item you cannot forget is Sunblock lotion.

I went to K-Mart yesterday.
There, I found $2.00 off coupon for Hawaiian Tropic products.
So, I bought 4 bottles.
Next day, I went back and purchased 2 more bottles.

Missing Attachment

Click here for my copy of Liability Insurance Policy 

It’s been one year already.
I have received bills for Business Linces and Liability Insurance renewals.
They never forgot to ask. (just like I never forget to ask my clients )

Business license and liability insurance is due this month.
I should hurry up and cut them checks.

I will scan my Liability Insurance policy and post it here.
Some wedding clients ask me to show the proof of liability insurance (I always show them at the meetings).
I think it’s a good idea that I display the policy on my website so people can see right away.

Missing Attachment

It took me about 5 hours to design this business card.
It’s double sided glossy color. I printed 1000 of them.
I had my original design for about 3 years and it was getting old.

Also, I wanted the backside of the card to work for me.
It works for me now.

Missing Attachment

I have a new hobby. I make custom mat boards. At first, I wanted to hang a few of my personal pictures on the wall. I thought the most economical way of hanging pictures would be the mat boards. Quickly I discovered that custom mat boards are expensive.

I thought “I can cut those on my own”. So, I bought mat board cutter, T-Square, spray glues (x3), and a lot of different boards. I even bought a table and a shelving unit just to dedicate to mat board cutting.

I don’t usually get excited on anything. But I when I find something I like, I tend to get obsessed. I was cutting mat boards all night. I went to sleep around 6am this morning. I had a lot of fun.

I will be adding custom mat board to my wedding package.
Now I can make a fancy signing board for the wedding.

PS. Happy Thanksgiving~!

Missing Attachment

I bought a 2 step stool at Wal*mart.
I will bring this to all my wedding photography gigs from now on.
Sometimes I need a higher viewpoint, especially when I shoot a large group.
I usually manage to find chairs to step on, but I need something sturdy.

I also bought 2 hard drives for my computer.
My current 80GB is running out of space from all the wedding images I have.
I may have to buy an extra computer that will do nothing but backing up my data.

Missing Attachment

I only use professional equipment, including film.
I test all my film, and I store them in refrigerator.

Nothing in life is guaranteed, anything can happen.
Both film and digital photography have their own elements that can go wrong.
One thing I worry about is quality of film.

I buy films in boxes, each box contains 20 rolls of film.
From that box of 20 rolls, I sacrifice 1 roll.
I do a test shoot. I want to make sure if the films are good.
If the test is bad, I would discard the entire box it came from.

Today, I tested 4 rolls of film.
They all seem pretty good.

———————————————————–
4 rolls of film & processing $32.00
Time spent = 2.5 hours.

Film in refrigerator

Actual Test Image from Film - Negative Scanned, full frame

Cropped image from above