March 23, 2010
I have been asked how I stay inspired. And I answered, I think both via email and possibly on Formspring too, I can’t remember. But I wanted to go into depth on the blog because I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately — mostly because people tell me all the time that I “have a good eye.” That really makes me laugh. I don’t think anyone is born more gifted or talented than anyone else. If you’ve ever read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell you’ll know that even Mozart wasn’t really a child prodigy. He practiced composing music all the time before he did anything worthwhile. I was a sucky piano player because I never practiced, but I think I’ve become a decent photographer because I take pictures constantly — and even when I’m not actually taking pictures I’m looking at pictures that I like for inspiration.
I have folders upon folders of images that speak to me. Some are from other wedding photographers, some are from photographers that don’t shoot weddings. Some are old pictures of relatives. Some are from fashion magazines. And hell, I’ll even admit to having a paparazzi picture saved in my inspiration folder. In my general inspiration folder, I have over 400 photos saved — and that’s not even considering the fact I have separate boudoir/wedding/fashion/theme ideas folders in addition. I pour over these pictures regularly. Sometimes I can’t put my finger on why I like a picture and sometimes I can pinpoint the exact reason — the lines of a building, the pose of the couple, the light, the expression on a person’s face. Before I go to any wedding or shoot I choose 30 or so pictures out of my inspiration folders that speak to me the most on that particular day. Sometimes, if I know the couple, I will select poses or settings that I think might work for them. Sometimes, if I think I might have time, I’ll choose kinds of lighting set ups that I might want to try. And sometimes, I’ll just pick a couple dozen photos that are particularly blowing my mind that day, for no special reason. Then I put them on my iPod and on the way to the wedding or shoot, I go over and over and over them like some kind of sick obsessive person.
I feel like by looking at such good images all the time, I get better. I mean, of course, you have to be taking pictures to get better at taking pictures. But looking at them helps too, at least for me. If I took a picture that I liked and tried to flat out copy it, it wouldn’t work. Actually, I should admit — I’ve done that before and it doesn’t work. I’m not ashamed. By diving in headfirst ever week into a pile of pictures that I love, it helps me narrow down the playing field, or more specifically, helps me really put my finger on what I like. And that’s half the battle. A lot of photographers, myself included, follow really stupid photography trends when they’re first starting out simply because they see it and want to try it. They haven’t yet realized what they like, what their style is. I don’t think I could describe me style, or pinpoint what it is that makes a picture I take really speak to me most of the time. But I’m getting there. My friend, a wedding photographer in Kent England, Eliza Claire, left a comment on one of the recent sessions I posted. She called one of the pictures, “Classic Kyle Hepp.”
And I was like, “I have a style. OMG, I have a STYLE?!?”
I think that was one of the best compliments I’ve ever received. Because if other people (ok, one other person) can identify a Kyle Hepp kind of photo, that means my vision is coming across — even if I’m not totally sure of what that vision is yet.
People who work in the arts are considered creatives. I suppose that photography is an art, and I’ve seen photographs that I definitely would consider to be art. But for the most part, photography is capturing what’s already there — you’re not actually creating anything. At every session and every wedding I go to, I take my photos of the day based on the couple and their personality and vibe. I know some photographers have a definitive vision — Jasmine Star always does very model-y type shoots and maybe that’s why she attracts model-y type clients. My clients really only have one thing in common — that they’re all totally different from one another and really unique people. I don’t attract one specific vibe of people and maybe that’s because I myself really like being around people from all walks. If the people we work with are shy and just want to cuddle and hug each other all day long for the pictures — that’s what we do. If the people we work with love the camera and want to pose it out like ANTM — that’s what we do. And if the people we work with are quirky and want to go for a more goofball session — that’s what we do.
So I’m well aware that I may not have a defined style, but in some ways I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I’d rather you see my clients in every photograph than me in every photograph, stylistically and emotionally speaking.
The incomparable Sarah Rhoads often writes about the creativity that burns inside her. A lot of photographers write about this need to create constantly. Their drive to create definitely does inspire me, and I wish I felt that way too, but I don’t. Then again, a lot of photographers also whine and moan and do the whole tortured artistic soul thing too — that’s so not me and so not inspiring.
But sometimes the fact that I don’t have that burn, or even that tortured soul, makes me feel like a fraud. Maybe if I truly were a creative arteeeeeeest, I’d fall into a deep depression if I couldn’t express myself like I needed to.
Most of the time, picking up a camera and taking a picture isn’t actually creating something though — you’re just capturing a moment in time that was already there, in weddings most of the time, it would’ve been there with or without your camera. That’s why I don’t feel creative. But I do feel inspired. Almost always. Even when I’m exhausted. Even when I’m sick. Because when you look at a wedding or a session, even if you’re seeing the couple’s style, not mine, that’s still the world through my eyes. And in a hundred years, even if the people looking at those pictures have no idea who took that picture, as long as someone is looking at the pictures, my vision lives on. I like that. Because the world I see is a good place with good people in it. And that inspires me.
March 21, 2010
*Before I start with this post, if you are having trouble commenting, or have had trouble in the past couple of days, could you please send me an email and describe the problem and what browser you’re using? Sorry about the technical difficulties. Thanks so much!
Antes de comenzar con este post, si tienen problemas con comentar, o han tenido prooblemas en los ultimos dias. podrias porfavor enviarme un email y describir el problema y que tipo de explorador estas usando? Disculpa los problemas tecnicos. Gracias!
Abril and Christian emailed me about photographing their backyard wedding a couple months ago. Then I never heard back from them. The date came and went and I assumed that they had found another photographer. It happens, I don’t get my feelings hurt. There are enough brides and grooms to go around for everyone 
But then, they emailed back. The remodeling of their house had fallen behind. They set a new date. And hired me 5 days beforehand. Because of this sort of laissez-faire attitude, I have to admit, I was not expecting their wedding to be SO cool. Because of this, we also had never met prior to the wedding, so I had no idea what to expect. Let me put it bluntly — Abril and Christian are fucking awesome.
Abril y Christian me escribieron acerca de fotografiar su matrimonio un par de meses atras. Despues nunca mas escuche de ellos. La fecha paso y asumi que habrian encontrado otro fotografo. Ocurre, no me hace sentir mal. Hay suficientes novios y novias pora todos. Pero despues, me escribieron denuevo. La remodelacion de su casa se habia atrasado. Tenian una nueva fecha. y me contrataron 5 dias antes. A causa de esta actitud tan relajada, tengo que admitir, no estaba esperando que su matrimonio fuera TAN “cool”. a causa de esto, tampoco nos habiamos conocido antes de la boda, asi que no tenia idea que esperar. Dejenme decirlo como es — Abril y Christian son la raja.
If I could get married all over again, I would’ve wanted this exact same wedding, down to every last detail. That’s not to say it was better than all my other clients’ events, but this was so similar to my own sense of style and taste. The most amazing thing was that even though it was entirely DIY, Abril and Christian managed to not stress out at all. They just totally enjoyed and lived in their moment.
Si pudiera casarme denuevo, me hubiera gustado esta misma boda, hasta el lultimo detalle. Eso no es decir que fue mejor que los eventos de todos mis otros clientes, pero esto fue tan parecido a mi propio sentido de estilo y gusto. Lo mas increible fue que aunque todo fue de produccion propia, Abril y christian se las arreglaron para no estresarse para nada. Ellos disfrutaron totalmente el momento.
Where’s Waldo?
donde esta Wally?
Abril had this Marilyn Monroe style dress made for her. It was gorgeous!
Abril tenia un vestido estilo Marilyn Monroe hecho para ella. Era precioso!
She added the white straps and flowers to her Zara shoes.
Ella agrego las tiritas blancas y flores a sus zapatos de Zara.
I looooooooove this abstract-y sort of picture. My favorites are always the ones where you either think, “That’s weird,” or “What in the world is going on here,” or “Was that a mistake?” Haha!
Me encanta este tipo de foto abstracta. Mis favoritas son simpre las que te hacen pensar, “eso es extrano” o “Que demonios esta pasando ahi” o fue eso un error?”. Haha!
Only awesome brides arrive to weddings on tricycles.
Solo novias increibles llegan a su matrimonio en un triciclo.
Only awesome grooms drink whisky while seeing their bride for the first time.
Solo novios increibles toman whisky cuando ven a la novia por primera vez.
Excellente shot below by Jorge, my second shooter for the day.
Beautiful light. Beautiful colors. Beautiful bride and groom. And beautiful origami birds hanging from the tree. Love.
Hermosa luz. Hermosos colores. Hermosa novia y novio. Y hermosos pajaros de origami colgando del arbol. Me encanta.
Oh no they didn’t. Oh yes they did have fake mustaches at every table.
Oh no puede ser. Oh si puede ser, tenian bigotes falsos para cada mesa
I think that this was actually a mistake (maybe not, Jorge, correct me if I’m wrong) but it was taken by Jorge. Either way, I love it.
Creo que esto fue de hecho un error ( a lo mejor no,Jorge, corrijeme si me equivoco) pero fue tomada por mi exelente segundo fotografo, Jorge. De cualquier forma me encanta.
I am not normally a big details person. I focus much more on people and emotions. But in this case, I felt like the details were very much an extension of who the couple is. And Abril and Christian’s yard looked so stunning that I really wanted to show off some of their hard work.
Normalmente no soy una persona de detalles. Me enfoco mucho mas en personas y emociones. Pero en este caso, senti que los detalles eran una extension de lo que la pareja es. El patio de Abril y Christian se veia increiblepor lo que de verdad queria mostrar algo de su esfuerzo.
Top left and middle photos, in the row under the accordion, the left and right photos, the row underneath that the right photo, and in the second to last row the left photo, are all Jorge’s.
Varias de las fotos en el collage son de Jorge.
Now to comment on a few of the details. They had an accordion player while Abril walked down the aisle, I loved that. It really added to the whimsical mood. The tables were set alternatively with flowers or candelabras that sort of looked like chandeliers. Everyone had fake mustaches and little pins with funky sayings on them in jars at their table as well. The tablecloths were all sown by hand by a friend of the family. In the front yard, where the ceremony was held, there was a total assortment of chairs and couches and larger lounge type things, with different designs of pillows. The backyard reception was lit with bar lightbulbs strung up, and then various decorative lights, like some up on the trellis where real grapes growing alternated with grape lights. A friend, who is a set designer, made the giant A and C especially for the wedding. So amazing how it lights up like the Hollywood sign! More family friends made ALL the desserts and the bride helped set up the entire dessert buffet herself. Seriously hands on. And in my favorite part of the night…they contracted a kebab cart to come in instead of the late night consomme that typically comes out way after dinner. I’m in love with Abril and Christian. What didn’t they think of?!?
Ahora unos comentarios de los detalles. Tuvieron una persona que tocaba el acordeon mientras abril caminaba hacia el altar, me encanto eso. Realmente agrego algo al ambiente. Las mesas estaban adornadas con flores o candelabros alternadamente. Todos tenian bigotes falsos y pequenos pines con dichos dentro de jarros en sus mesas. Los manteles fueron todos cosidos a mano por una amiga de la familia. En el patio del frente, donde se realizo la ceremonia habia una variedad de sillas y sillones, con diferentes tipos de cojines. La recepcion fue iluminada con ampolletas solas colgando de un cable y varias luces decorativas, como uvas falsas alternadas con las uvas reales. Un amigo, que es disenador, hizo la A y la C gigante especialmente para la boda. Increible como se iluminaba como el letrero de Hollywood. Familia y amigos hicieron los postres y la novia ayudo a servir el bufet de postres por si misma. Y mi parte favorita de la noche…contrataron un carrito de Kebabs para venir en ves del consome que tipicamente viene mucho despues de la cena. Estoy fascinada con Abril y Christian. En que no pensaron?
March 20, 2010
I’m uploading this as I run out the door to another wedding, but I figured Alanna and Andres wouldn’t mind if I gave them a post without much written in it, as long as it have pictures Congrats to you both, the day was beautiful!
Alanna has such a Southern beauty and elegance to her.
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