San Diego Photographer

What's up with the Knife Photos?

A few years back, I created a website for a reseller of collectible handmade knives. To this day, he is one of my best customers (see www.exquisiteknives.com). Knives are difficult to photograph and so it naturally followed that knife photography and product photography in general became part of my day-to-day duties. My first published photograph was in Blade magazine.

Do you travel?

Yes, I love to travel, especially to do event photography or destination weddings. Please do not hesitate to ask. Travel is included if in the San Diego area between Dana Point and the Mexican border.

Who owns the copyrights to the pictures?

The photographer, of course! Photos are works of art created by the photographer and he or she always owns the rights to them from the moment the camera goes "click". I am willing to license (not release) the images to you in some cases so that you can make your own prints, or use the photos commercially if they were made for that reason. I ask that you do not modify, crop, colorize or alter the photos since editing is part of the creative process and is prohibited under copyright law as well. I ask that you please credit me when posting photos online or publishing them in any way. I ask that you please buy your prints from me if possible. When people buy prints directly from me, it helps support my online gallery and allows me to provide better service and quality control. A model release is required from the model only if the photos will be used in some commercial capacity.

Do I get a digital copy of the photos?

Yes, I understand that most people want a digital copy of their photos in this day and age. Most of my sessions come with a CD of full resolution JPG files and you have the rights to print them if agreed upon. I do not release RAW files or "digital negatives" however, and I reserve the right to release only my selected images from the shoot, not necessarily every frame taken.

Do you shoot digital or film?

I prefer the speed and convenience of digital but I sometimes shoot a bit of film as well. Certain projects lend themselves well to film and I am willing to shoot film if asked. Almost any piece of photographic equipment imaginable can be rented these days, including the studio!

When do I get my pictures?

In general, within one week of a portrait session, two weeks of a wedding, one to two weeks for engagment photography. I like to work fast and shoot hundreds of pictures. I typically cull those down to just the best ones and then go through your favorites in Photoshop for fine tuning. The more flexible you can be the better it is for the final results. Once I have the finished images, I take some time to upload all of them to the web gallery and send you a link and password.

Do we meet before the wedding?

Yes. As a wedding photographer, I like to meet at the place of the shoot well in advance so I can fully understand your needs and expectations. I also like to give the wedding venue a thorough scouting to gather ideas and assess any challenges associated with lighting or positioning on the day of the wedding. The better you can prepare me for your wedding with all the relevant info, the better your results will be. Having a plan and familiarity will increase our comfort level on the big day as well.

Do you require a contract?

Yes. For all wedding, event, and commercial shoots I require a signed contract and 50% deposit to reserver your date. The deposit is non-refundable. For portrait and head shot sessions, I require a 50% deposit only if you want to guarantee your date for one reason or another.

Do you do comp cards?

Yes. Please don't hesitate to ask. A composite card is a medium sized print with several shots of a model, actor, or musician. Think of it as a mini-portfolio you can hand to someone in a pinch. For a comp card, you generally want a variety of shots. A sutdio head shot, outdoor head shot, formalwear, and fitness shot would be a good example. I can handle the photography and do the design and printing shortly after.

What kind of camera do you use?

Sometimes I use a Canon Digital SLR with a big, fancy lens, sometimes a Holga (toy camera). I feel the camera itself is the most irrelevant part of making good images. Lighting, composition and a lot of practice makes good photos! I am constantly looking for new toys to try out, but I strongly believe that skill makes great images, not fancy expensive gear.

Do you modify the pictures in Photoshop?

Yes! I include basic color correction and exposure adjustments with most sessions. I also use Photoshop to enhance the impact of my work. I feel that some images look better in Black and White or Sepia and sometimes convert them in post production.

Can you make me look younger?

Yes! I can smooth skin, make people appear thinner, remove blemishes etc. Some of this is done with lighting technique and some in post production. Cosmetic retouching does take time and is not always included in the price of your shoot, however. See the pricing page for details.

Do you prefer natural light or flash?

I like both, but I prefer not to use direct, on-camera flash. To me, flash is usually best when you cannot tell it was used.

Do you prefer posed photos or candids?

Both! Posing people in a natural way gives a level of control that often cannot be achieved spontaneously. I love candids, but I usually recommend that we do a few posed pictures on the session as well, even if it's not in a studio environment.

Do you offer TFCD or free photography?

Sometimes. In some cases I may be willing to trade my time for yours if you can sign a model release allowing me to sell your photos commercially.

Frequently Asked Questions- Web

Who will update and make changes to my website?

Often times we can build you a CMS (content managment system) that will allow you to make the most common changes yourself, i.e. adding or removing products for sale. We also offer maintenance at a rate of $50 per hour. This is billed in 30 minute minimums.

Will I make it to the top of Google?

That is up to Google! While no design or "SEO" company can offer you a position guaranteee of any kind, we do our best to get you a high ranking. There are many factors that effect your ranking. The main one is how many sites related to your field contain a one way link to your site.

How long does it take to get a site up and running?

Generally 2 to 6 weeks. It helps if you can provide us with lots of content before we begin.

What do we need to give you to get started on our web site?

The more the better! We want your text content (ad copy), photos of your business, photos of you, a brief history and summary of what you do, links to other sites you like, etc. The more you communicate with us, the more likely we are to come up with a design that you like.

Do you use templates?

No! We do not use templates and we do not accept pre-made templates from the client. They are too generic and often difficult to maintain and modify. We do use third party shopping carts because we feel there is no need to "re-invent the wheel". My personal preferences are Mal's-E or Paypal.