classic is still in

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We have a classic session for your perusal along with a short article.

This image is a peek at the session.

wells ayers photos are up

Please have a look on patrickcox.net to see wedding images journalistic style of the wells-ayers wedding :) Megan was such a blessing to photograph. She and her family were amazing. I put a few hundred of myselections for your review. Please feel free to leave comments.

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There are many discussions about what photojournalism truly is. I recently heard someone use the term "photojournalistic portrait". Perhaps a contradiction in terms.

The purist form of photojournalism typically would come from a non-commissioned work. If you are hired, then the subject typically knows you and knows why you are there. But more realistically, a good photographer should be able to get himself lost and behind the scenes to make the photojournalism happen.

Photojournalism is not when people are making a happy face and looking at the camera. It is also not staging people in candid-like photographs like holding hands walking down main street, etc..

People also confuse traditional and non traditional photography and whether it can be photojournalism. One might say that traditional is something that would be consistent with what has always been done. Like a full length bridal with a backdrop with the dress all fluffed out as the bride smiles for the camera while holding her flowers. Non-traditional would be more like the 'trash the dress' sessions that many are doing after the wedding. The bride is coaxed to do things in her dress that would never take place before the wedding. However, the outcome is unique. No one is as concerned about whether the dress stays clean or not. Trash the dress sessions still are not journalism. So neither traditional or non-traditional make photojournalism what it is.

Another quick thought: On occasion, you run into a person who is camera aware, but knows exactly what to do without looking at the lens...exactly what is this? I think it is at best actor photojournalism. Although the result is excellent, usable and well liked by most clients.

So what is photojournalism? If I go with a bride to a session, can any of the images be photo-journalistic? Some seem to be, but are they really? Many photographers claim to be photojournalists, but have multiple styles in their portfolio. For those who do not know which images are photojournalism and which are not photojournalism, the picture of photojournalism becomes rather fuzzy (pun intended). The images above of the bride in the field, definitely have a candid quality about them. She was having so much fun in that gown. Playing with the veil, twirling around, laughing. She did all of that without prompting. The whole time she knew (I think she knew) that I was pointing a camera at her. Perhaps she was lost in her happy thoughts about the marriage. No matter, I think we could safely call the result very cool portraits.

I may be mistaken, but it seems to me that few photographers hired by the public, who need to make a living can be %100 pure photojournalists. The client often requires more than just the candid photojournalism. Sometimes the client says that they want photojournalism, but hand off a hefty list of must-have formal shots. We are out to please and out to make a living, so most would accommodate such requests.

The trend in SC (at least what I see) is a blend of all kinds of photography. From formals to bridal portraits, from photojournalism to staged cool shots utilizing the clients venue or something spectacular in the background.

The term photojournalism has become a buzz word that often refers to something it is not. Photojournalism can only happen when the subject is unaware that he or she is being photographed. Sometimes a photo-journalistic shot looks like it could have been set up, but based on the expressions it is clear it wasn't. So photojournalism is cool compositions with people doing things without being aware of the camera. Frankly, it takes a very experienced and trained eye to anticipate this kind of shot on purpose. Many occasionally will get a lucky shot because of time and chance (right place at right time), but never seem to reproduce that style consistently.

A common photojournalistic shot, that most are able to make happen is the wedding exit. You are standing there with a camera or two, and HERE they come and you shoot the bajeebees out of it hoping to get a cool shot. Staged candidness and everyone knows what will happen. So, is anticipation a factor in photojournalism? I think so. A war photojournalist knows there is a war going on, etc..

The image we have here in the clouds...what exactly is it? Not traditional. Not candid. I put her there. I suggested that she hold the dress. I didn't ask her to look in that direction. She saw something and for a second forgot what we were doing and I popped the shutter (the 501 sounds like a pop when you release it).

The root definition of photojournalism is telling a story through photographs, just fyi (although this does not seem to encapsulate the contemporary definition). I photographed Hank Haney once at Walnut Cove, and I was commissioned to make his portrait. I photographed him as he was giving instruction to a group of executives (by the way he is Tigers Trainer). I never interacted with him, but I made his portrait for the clubhouse. Just because I didn't pose or talk with him during the shoot doesn't mean it is photojournalism. So to answer the question, it seems that portraits cannot be photojournalism :) If you see it differently I welcome your perspective.

downtown with an umbrella

Does location matter when it comes to a photography session? What is it regarding location that makes for a good or bad backdrop? Is the place special to the client? Does it look cool (as perceived by the client). Can a good photographer make do with any location an get something the client will be pleased with. I personally find the subject way more important than where we are going. Give me a junk yard, give me a street, let’s play and see what we get. More important than location, I am wondering about the light. Does the location have good light? Is it really dark? Is there natural light which comes into the venue? Don’t make the mistake of checking the light at the time and season of the actual shoot. This image is of a cutie I had the privilege to photograph today. Can you tell where we were? Does it matter?

Photographing kids journalistically

Let them have some fun...

You could hear him making the vrmmm sound for the firetruck as he pushed it along. This little guy was adorable.

In South Carolina it has cooled off and it is time to get outside. If you look up to the trees, the fall colors are hinting. Just a few more weeks and they will peak in Greenville. In the South, there is no better backdrop than fall foliage.

It is easier to photograph children in a journalistic sense. Give them two minutes to get interested in something and they will forget you are even there.

Please send me a note if you want to hear some of my ideas for this fall.

photographing children can be an art

We were lucky enough to photograph this little girl outside today. She was so precious and had really cool parents who recently moved to the area. We have more images than they will know what to do with!

Sometimes the key is to have the children make "some" of the decisions as to where they want to go next. Another thing to consider: I have seen many a tragedy when toys come along for the shoot. Sometimes taking it away becomes the trouble. Other times they hold it upside down or backwards and it seems to make it into the shot it didn't belong. Give the plan some thought and go with what works at the moment :)

Fall Sessions are nearly booked full for a few weeks out. Please don't wait until the last minute. We are now booking Mondays-Fridays and have a handful of late appointments. Please call and ask for Kristen and she will help you get an appointment that works for you. See you soon.

Stop wasting time

Children sessions are in the air from now until the end of the year. Have you had your children photographed? Are you pleased with the results? I tell you what...Let's say you aren't happy with the photography you received at the last place you went. Also, you may have some remorse because it took time and money. Call me and tell me you think your children deserve better. I will give you a free session when you bring in those images (not proofs) that you ordered, but are not pleased with. Let me show you what can be done in a short amount of time. Quality costs less than you think and we get it right the first time. Come and see.

Let's replace those bad images with something to smile about.

let me do my thing :)

Keep the wind in your photographers sail. When I asked Andrea what she had in mind for her bridal, she said: what ever you want to do is fine with me. That made me happy. This is also cause for a bit of concern. As the artist, you want to make certain you are giving the client what they want too. I have done 1000's of bridal portraits, and each is different. Do you want to be in the clouds, or at the loft?

If you like this image, don't box me in too much :) I am also good at taking direction... but that is another topic altogether.

This is a hint of the result. A wind in the sail image. Andrea was married last weekend at the Ryan Nicholas Inn.

Hope you like it.

fall weddings crisp blue skies

This is the season for cooler temperatures and different sunsets. I have a thing for sunsets. If I ever wanted to do a series, this would be one of the topics. I suppose it is an ongoing project. These bag pipers were on that hill a couple years ago. They were waiting for the bride to come. They were standing right in front of that tree and there was not a shot, which was frustrating. The silhouettes of the pipers in front of the tree, looked confusing. They were too far away to get their attention to move. I sat there on a long lens like a guy hunting deer. They were in my sights, but no clean shot. Then they started to play and march as the bride was coming. I was shaking because this was exactly what I was hoping for. So, here it is and I still love it. It was a fall wedding at the Childress Vineyard in NC . I don't know much about racing but Childress owns race car teams or something. Long story short, this is a colorful fall sunset. I hope you like it.