Special DVD Request

On the most part I make dvd slideshows of sport teams and the players who play in them, but on occasion I'm asked to put together slideshows for special occasions. I've been asked to put together a slideshow for a co-workers mother's 50th Wedding Anniversary. I'm real comfortable putting together sport slideshows, but a bit out of my comfort zone when asked for these special dvd's.

Recently I've been asked by a friend and co-worker of my wife to put together a slideshow for her niece who will be graduating from high school this year. Like I do with most things photography related, I told her what I can and can't do and spoke about her expectations. We came to an agreement as to what I needed and how it was going to be put together. Now the hard part.

Well Wednesday evening I recieved the USB external drive containing pictures of the special lady and yesterday during my day off I sat at home and worked my magic. Today I brought my laptop to work and finished the slideshow. I had to say it was a bit tough putting together something as important as this and not know anything about the person it is for, but I do want to say that I am very happy with the outcome. Once I got home from work I uploaded the slideshow to PhotoDex and contacted my wife's co-worker.

Before I tell you what she said I will say that my goal when putting together my slideshows is to make the mom's cry and I hit a homerun with this one. My wife and I were at my son's track banquet when she called and left a message. She just love it and cried at the end, which was the plan. I can't be any more happier then with the response I got from her. She loved it as is and didn't want anything changed. A job well done.

Selina's Slideshow

Lakewood High Track / Wa Bam 12U Softball

With my sports action photography one of my big sales is from DVD slide shows. I'll come out and shoot a various games of a team and put together a slide show that parents can purchase. I've also done quite a few of these where a school's booster club will purchase one for each senior as a gift, which is given to them during their sports banquet.

Here are two that I've recently finished putting together. The first is for Lakewood High School's Track Team, which my son was a part of. During several meets and did my best to capture as many of the athlete's as I could in action. Now this slide show is more for their banquet then it is for sale. Don't get me wrong, if someone wants a copy I will be more than happy to sell them one, but I wanted these athlete's to see some great shots of them competing.

Lakewood High School track Slideshow

This next one is of my niece's softball team. As I did above I went to several games capturing the girls in action and put together a slide show that some of the parents bought. It's a great way for these young ladies to have something to remember the season with. Most importantly it's something they can look at later in their life and show their kids.

Wa Bam Softball Slideshow

Famine and Prom

Saturday had a, lot of potential with photographic opportunities. First there was Long Beach Middle School Championship Soccer, which had the potential to make some decent money for me. Second I was asked to photography a young kid during a baseball game, which would have been a paid job. I was asked to take some prom pictures of my nephew by my sister and finally my son was participating in a church youth group famine to raise money and understanding for the hungry.

Before I tell you what I ended up photographing I feel the need to say what I think about family mixing with photography. I'm an active member of a photography forum and have had several discussions about charging family and friends. My opinions and beliefs tend to go against the flow when it comes to charging family and friends. I do sports action photography on the side, but as most photographers, regardless of their speciality, get asked to photograph a wide range areas. I myself have been asked to photograph sports action, senior portraits, various parties, and weddings. Now mind you that I photograph sports action and never claim to shoot the other fields, all though I have done all of these one time or another. The bottom line is since I do have somewhat knowledge of photography I'm often asked by friends and family to take pictures. I've always made it my policy to take pictures of my friends and family for free, as long as I'm available. Most people will disagree with this, but I just can't see charging my sister to take some pictures of my niece's or nephew's. What I do is go out and take the shots, which I will later give to them on a CD / DVD. Other than my time, there is virtually no cost for me to do this. So, do you know what I ended up doing this Saturday.

First I drove to the church and took various shots of them preparing and painting their youth room, from about 9am to 12:30pm, at which point I drove home to prepare a slide show that would be shown during their dinner at 6pm. After spending about 2 hours at home I went back to the church to get some finished shots and then set up my equipment to show the slide show, which was shown by my wife. I couldn't stay for the dinner or the slide show as I had to go to my sister's house to take some shots of my nephew for his prom. The only person on time, besides myself, was my nephew and that's only because he lives there. I ended u.p taking shots of him and then of his date and friends as the arrived. I was there almost 2 hours before I could go home and relax.

People might say I'm stupid to give up two jobs that would bring in money to take the pictures I ended up taking. Me, I say that's what friends and family do. My son spent 30 hours not eating for a cause and it was the least I could do to document this event and share their day with them with pictures. And my nephew, well I love him like a son, and how could I charge my son to take pictures. Well I can't, that's just the way it is for me.

So below you'll find some pictures of the famine and my nephew, enjoy.

The Beginning

The crew after a hard days work. Can you tell that their all starving.

The End

Well after setting up my equipment for the famine slide show it was time to head out to my sister's house to take some prom pictures of my nephew. He is the oldest of all of the kids and will be heading out to college in Arizona this August.

Any hoot, he is going to the prom and my sister wanted some pictures of him, so me being the good brother went to their house and took some pictures, that is once everyone was there. I was able to get some shots of him but everyone else was running behind. Once his date arrived she still needed to get ready and put her game face on and then we had to wait for the limo, which was also running behind. So I took pictures in fazes, a little bit here and a little bit there.

I'm staring to get the proper equipment to take portraits but still need to learn a lot. I recently received my new soft box but still working out the detail on how to use it properly, so for this I used my new Pocket Wizards to shoot my flash off camera. I was pleased with the lack of shadows but really need to learn more on posing.

The Nephew

My nephew and his date

"The Three Amigo's"

Wa Bam - "The Pictures"

I've finally finished editing the pictures from Wa Bam's game. I didn 't put much focus on the action as I wanted to get as many of the girls on base and get them catching the ball. I'll start with some shots of my niece. Enjoy.

The "Eyes" don't have it

***************

"The Action"

"Wa Bam"

Wa Bam Softball - Playoffs

Well my niece's softball team made it to the playoffs, unfortunately they lost their first game and ended up in the losers bracket, but that didn't take the steam out of these girls game. I missed their first playoff game but was able to make their second one, which was last night.

Right after work I drove to the field, spending 1 hour and 15 minutes in traffic to get there. I'd have to say I wasn't really in a pleasant mood when I arrived, but it didn't take long to change my frown to a smile. Watching the excitement and enthusiasm in these girls just made my day. Even under dark threatening clouds I had a great time shooting their game. All of the girls did an outstanding job hitting and fielding eventually winning the game taking them into the next round tonight.

I have a lot of pictures to go through and will post them as soon as I'm finished editing them. Until then, good luck girls in your game tonight.

Mustangs - White Sox #2

Had my second parent from the Wilmington Mustang White Sox hire me to photograph their child in action. This young man started the game pitching and then went to catcher, so I was able to get some nice shots of him in action. I also had the parent from last week ask for additional shots of her son.

The following four shots were taken while I was kneeling behind the catcher during warm up between innings. I will say that if you attempt this technique to capture shots of the pitcher you must be alert and ready for a missed ball by the catcher and be willing to take a hit.

On this shot notice the dust coming off the end of the bat after contact was made. I just missed the bob (ball on bat) shot.

The many faces of baseball

You may remember the pictures I took of this young man last week. I had various shots of him in action with his tounge sticking out. Here are a few more shots of him on second base trying to keep himself occupied. Don't you just love this age?

A Very Busy Saturday

Saturday was a very busy day for me. First I wanted to go to my nephew's track meet to get some shots of him running. I wasn't happy with the running shots I obtained of him running track last weekend so I thought I'd go out again. Normally the middle school track meets I shoot start at 8am so I tend to get to them early. So here I am at the field at 8am and find out the meet didn't start until 10am. Well, that's just bad planning on my part. So finally around 10:30 I was able to get some shots of my nephew. That was the beginning of my day.

I found out Friday night that a friend wanted some senior pictures of her son. I was hoping I could postpone those until I obtained some equipment I had on order but it just didn't work. I rushed home after the meet to pick up my equipment for the portraits. Now this is something I've done a few times but just don't really have a grasp of, but I'm always willing to help a friend. So we meet at a local park and do the best I can.

From this I went straight out to the softball field for my niece's softball game. This was their last game of the season. I'm hoping to put together a DVD sideshow for the players that I can sell and needed more shots of them in action.

So it was a busy day driving back and fourth taking pictures. I don't like disappointing people and when it comes to my friends and family I will do what I can to get them the pictures they want.

Below you will find the three events posted separately. Take a look and let me know what you think.

My Nephew's Track

Last week I posted some pictures I took of my nephew during his first track meet. Well I wasn't happy with the pictures I ended up with of him running so I went to his track meet this Saturday to get some better shots. I am much happier with these shots of him running. I was able to get good position and a much lower perspective.