Jamison & Amy Part II - Fireworks, the Salt Flats, and the State Capitol

After shooting their engagements, Amy and Jamison changed clothes and modes to a more formal style. We made use of a dramatic sunset, some balloons, and their names in the salt (carved by Jamison with considerable effort.)
The next day of our shoot-a-rama weekend was the 3rd of July. We did a session at the Utah State Capitol then hurried up to Eaglewood Golf Course for a KILLER fireworks show and some pretty amazing images. We had every possible problem with equipment but we went to Plan D and pulled it out.

{PHOTO IQ: Like I mentioned, I had a total tech meltdown while shooting with the fireworks. The entire show lasted 10 minutes or so so we knew we only had that long to get the images we wanted.
Some of the challenges:
1. Knowing in advance where the fireworks will be.
2. Focus, The subject is not lit while the fireworks are like focus magnets.
3. Very little time to figure out settings
4. Posing in total darkness

The solutions need to be thought out in advance with several backup plans, this is a situation where if you don't know what to do should a piece of equipment go out, you lose. You simply won't get the images.
We didn't know and although we were set up when the show started, we were facing the wrong direction. They had moved the show more south than it had been the year before so we had to pick up and flip directions.
Focus was tough. I had an assistant holding a laser pointer on them but it ended up being too faint. Plus, the radio receiver wasn't triggering the back light. (Oh cruel irony!) I had to change tactics. I don't know that I've ever changed tactics quite that fast. I had been set up with two off-camera speedlites, (flashes) a main light up and left with a Fong Bong directed up, and a back light straight behind. Both were set on manual with Cactus V4 radio triggers. I didn't use my Pocket Wizard TTLs because I simply couldn't afford for them to crap out like they tend to do at the least convenient times (Ask me about my abusive relationship with my Pocket Wizards), plus, this was no situation for TTL flash. Since I had no flash on-camera, there was no auto-focus help . I feared that I was missing focus since my camera kept hunting for focus, and I couldn't take the chance. I quickly switched to the Canon slave mode on my 7D--the only Canon camera that can trigger speedlites with its pop-up flash--and used the focus assist option to make sure I was hitting. This worked well after some adjustment of the flash position--triggering via infrared requires that the speedlite sensors be pointed towards the camera--more time wasted. The other disadvantage is that because there was no line of sight between the back light and the master, it couldn't fire. I made sure I got some good, focused shots with just the main light before I jumped up to try and get the backlight firing again. Sometimes you just have to get something. I didn't know how long the fireworks would last so I didn't want to spend so much time fixing the setup that we missed it all. Once I knew I had SOMETHING good I jumped up to make the adjustments.
Fortunately, the back side flash was a cheaper, lower tech model. You see, the Canon 580 ex II doesn't have a photo cell to trigger from another light source. A HUGE oversight in my mind since it solves a lot of problems by working into any system. I jumped up and set the backlight to trigger from the flash of the main light. Finally the perfect setup, just in time to get about 5 frames of the finale. Fortunately, I think we got the RIGHT 5 frames. They turned out great.
The moral of the story is, no matter how prepared you think you are, learn how to do the same things several different ways. That knowledge is what makes someone a professional, the knowledge to get the shot no matter WHAT goes wrong with the equipment or situation.
Another thought, I never changed the output amount or settings on the camera or flashes. They had been set beforehand and were right on. That left me the time to solve problems without trying to figure exposure first.

It's been a long rambling Photo IQ but I hope, worthwhile. I'd love to hear your thoughts, either here or on my facebook page!}

For those of you on smart phones who can't see the slideshow below, click here to be whisked electronically to the facebook album.

See more at www.jonwoodbury.com

Lauren - Bridals at the Utah State Capitol

Since I'm done processing their wedding and it will be going up soon, I thought I'd post Lauren's bridals.
Lauren is beautiful, both inside and out. She wanted something elegant and striking. The Utah State Capitol was the perfect location with its white marble and stone pillars and stairs.

For those of you who can't see the slideshow below, click here to be whisked electronically to the facebook album.

{Photo IQ: For the tip today I'm going to diagram the lighting for the shot below. I wanted dramatic and striking which usually means bringing in extra lighting.}

There were three speedlites in this shot. The main light is from high camera right, diffused with a Fong Bong. It's at 1/8 power. The back-light is directly behind the bride about 5 feel high, pointing at the camera. It was at 1/16 power. The third is a bare flash behind the pillars on the right side hitting the stairs. I wanted the stairs to really trail down on her. I don't remember the power but my guess is probably 1/2 or so. I liked the shadows it cast, creating a kind of cross-hatching in the background.
It's important to use a slow enough shutter speed to still get the color in the background but not so much that it takes focus off the bride. It was shot at 1/125 at f5 and 800 ISO. See below for the lighting diagram.

See more at www.jonwoodbury.com

Brian + Young Ha - Wedding Day - Salt Lake Temple

Brian and I have been friends for a long, long time. We met in the 4th grade and have been friends ever since. We have traveled the world together and been through a lot. I have often wondered who the girl would be that nabbed my good friend. Young Ha is the perfect choice! Brian needs someone who gives him a lot of guff because without me there to do it, who knows how easy his life would be! I loved Young Ha from the moment I met her and I can not tell you how happy I am that they finally found each other. I was privileged to be a part of their wedding.

Brian and Young Ha were married in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple then followed up with a reception, (complete with delectable food from the bride's native Korea) at their local church building.

{Brian and Young Ha are bright and vibrant so I wanted that same feeling in the photos. I lit their reception with two Strobelite studio strobes firing into the huge white ceiling of the church. Both were fired by Cactus V4 triggers attached to both of my cameras. I shot on manual all night and had basically perfect light everywhere. It worked beautifully.}

For those of you on smart phones who can't see the slideshow below, click here to be whisked electronically to the facebook album.

To see the photography of the entire wedding or purchase prints, click here.

See more at www.jonwoodbury.com

Young Love...Fashionably Late -- Janna + Dave, Manti Temple

To see the full event or purchase images from this amazing, artistic, classy wedding, click right here.
Janna and I have been friends for a very long time. She was one of my best friends in high school and we have stayed good friends through many, many good times and a few bad. She is one of my favorite people on the planet.
Dave and Janna met at Snow College in 1994 and actually dated clear back then! They both went their separate ways only to have everything come full-circle 15 years later. They are live in the Washington DC area and having the time of their lives.
I was honored and privileged to shoot their wedding. I loved everything we did and just had an amazing time. Janna has an incredible family and we had a great time. I was also excited to be able to shoot the reception with the incomparable Andrea Hanks. Congratulations, Janna and Dave!
Janna's Bridals at the Union Station in Ogden.
Dave and Janna's Engagements in downtown Salt Lake City.


For those of you on smart phones who can't see the slideshow below, click here to be whisked electronically to the facebook album.

See more at www.jonwoodbury.com

John + Maree, Part 1 - Manti Temple Ceremony

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we work with the coolest people! John and Maree came to us as a referral from another really amazing couple, Summer and JD. (Take a fond look back at THEIR engagements and wedding.)
From the very beginning John and Maree did something pretty amazing...they trusted me explicitly. They recognized early on that when we work together to come up with concepts and settings and ideas that are unique to them we end up with amazing work.
The best images come from collaboration. If the photographer does all the work, the images will be very strongly his/her style and most likely resemble closely other work he/she has done previously. Not necessarily bad but it's not how I roll.
If the bulk of the work is done by the client that removes the photographer from the mix and negates their wealth of knowledge and experience to a certain degree and lowers the overall quality and magic of the images.
When the client and photographer work together the vision becomes something that reflects and represents both parties and the product is something that could never have been achieved in any other way.
This formula in action is demonstrated in John and Maree's engagement session and Maree's bridals which I posted previously.
Anyway, John and Maree got married in the Manti LDS temple and had a small open-house that night. The next week they had a more formal reception (Can you say, awesome? I knew you could.) in St. George. Those images will be in Part deux tomorrow, so set those bookmarks!

For those of you on smart phones who can't see the slideshow below, click here to be whisked electronically to the facebook album.

See more at www.jonwoodbury.com

Blayr & Brock - Vintage Inspired Back Yard Reception

Blayr and Brock are a couple that, quite frankly, are way too attractive for their own good. About a month after her sister Brittnie's wedding (Which I was privileged to photograph as well,) Blayr married her sweetheart in the Logan LDS Temple followed by an impeccably planned backyard reception at her parents' house in Tremonton, Utah. From the vintage Cadillac to the small-town country band from Malad, Idaho this classy reception was filled to overflowing with style and personality.
(Due to a canceled flight from Seattle, I was stuck but the ceremony at the Logan temple was covered beautifully by the lovely and talented Andrea Hanks of Andrea Hanks Photography. I finagled a flight a little bit later and was able to make it in time for the reception.)
I also just realized that I never blogged Blayr's bridal session. It was one of my favorites of the year for sure so look for it coming up.

As always, if you can't see the Flash slide show below, click here for the gallery on Facebook.

See more at www.jonwoodbury.com

Mariana & Carlos - Utah Wedding Photography

Mariana is from Brazil. Carlos is from Spain. How did they ever meet?

BYU of course.

After being married in the Draper Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, Mariana and Carlos proceeded to their luncheon and reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City.
I can't even tell you how much I enjoyed this wedding. Carlos and Mariana are the sweetest couple, they just go, go, go all the time. Everybody danced and had a great time. (It was also a veritable Who's Who of LDS church leaders since Mariana's father is Elder Costa, a General Authority.)
Pay close attention to the flowers as they were done by my favorite florist on the planet, my lovely wife, Lori. You can see her work at www.weddingsbywoodbury.com.

**If you're browsing on a smart phone and can't see the slideshow below, you can browse all the photos here on my facebook page.

Brittany & Janssen!

...and we're back to weddings!
Brittany and Janssen have been an amazingly fun couple to work with! Not only did they have some awesome ideas on locations making their engagement shoot one of my favorites of all time, but Brittany was such a classic and lovely bride with amazing details to her gown that the bridal shoot was simply breathtaking! It always helps when a good looking couple like this are also incredibly nice, it makes my job easy!
Their culminating event happened to be my first shoot ever at the newly dedicated Draper, Utah LDS Temple. Not only did I get to shoot a fun couple and their families, but I got to do it in a new place, which always gives me a kick. Both families had members coming in from out of state for the big event, so the reception became a really sweet opportunity to document everyone coming together and loving the time spent as one huge family! The Northampton House made a beautiful backdrop to the reunion, and the toasts and memories made us all smile and even tear up.

Thanks for including me in your day!

Allison & Dave - Salt Lake Temple and The 23rd Floor

Okay. So this one happened a while ago--actually before I started blogging but I've been wanting to post it for a long time. The ceremony was at the Salt Lake LDS temple and the reception was at the 23rd Floor, which, incidentally, no longer hosts receptions--it's a shame, it was really a cool view of the city.
Allison and David were so much fun to work with despite being cold it was a beautiful day.

Best Birthday Present Ever!

For my birthday, my sister arranged for me to talk to Bill Slaughter, the photography guru at the Church Archives! I got to see original daguerreotypes from the 1850's of Wilford Woodruff and Brigham Young as well as prints from George Edward Anderson's 1907 mission to the church history sites, early images of Salt Lake City and the Mormon Trail from C.R. Savage and other prints from the large photo collection of the LDS church. For a photo nerd/history buff it was a really sweet birthday present! My sister is so good at thoughtful gift-giving! It was good clean fun.

Thanks Bill!

Priesthood Session

I've always been amazed at the Priesthood Session of the LDS General Conference. Millions of men from around the world all meeting together to hear prophets of God speak about being better fathers, husbands, citizens, and men. Being a photographer, I wanted to document it visually. At first I felt bad taking pictures during the meetings...then I realized that they do it all the time for the Ensign magazine. So I took a few with my camera phone. I'm really realizing that I'm not just a photographer, I'm a photo junkie. It's like an addiction. I also can't believe how easily we have come to trust camera phones. The quality is terrible. I know people who don't own another camera because they figure their camera phone works. It's sad. I think that the quality of photos has become both exceptional and horrendous in the digital age.